DO NOT charge your phone at those public charging points at the airport the next time

Do you often find your phone dangerously low on battery because you forgot or ignored to charge it before you left home? There are many of us. At times like these, those public charging stations at airports, malls, or other places look like an oasis in the middle of a desert. But beware of these public mobile charging stations!

This is not me asking you to stay alert; but authorities the world over, like the FBI and even the Odisha Police, have warned against using public mobile charging stations. And this is not new. They have been sending out these warnings for years. 

What's up with public mobile charging stations?

So, let's make one thing clear before we begin. This warning is NOT for electrical charging points, like those two or three-holed sockets, where you plug in your adapter and the USB cable to charge your phone. AC power outlets are safe to use. 

• This warning is for the USB charging ports only, like the one shown in the picture below. 

• You must have encountered these charging points at airports or malls, in between chairs, or mounted to a wall next to the AC power outlets. 
• All you need to do is to plug your USB cable into the ports to start charging, without using an adapter. 
• However, FBI, cybersecurity experts and others warn that these USB ports could be infected and used by hackers to gain access to your phone and data. 
• In theory, hackers can open up these USB sockets and replace the real adapter within with an infected adapter. 

• This kind of scam is called "juice jacking", where criminals can alter a charging kiosk to steal your data. 
• Once you plug your phone into these infected USB ports, malware can be installed in your phone without your knowledge. 
• This malware can potentially detect activity, keystrokes, and data stored on your phone including bank account details, which can be used by criminals to either sell your data or empty your bank account. 
• The same warning is applied if you find an abandoned USB cable at a public charging station. You must avoid using the cables in case the cables are also infected and planted by a criminal. 

• This is also why you should avoid using USB cables of other people, especially strangers.
• Sometimes, when you plug into possibly dubious USB ports, you may be asked whether you want to charge your phone only or share your data, similar to when you connect your phone to a laptop or computer with a USB cable. 

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What can you do to stay protected? 

• There is something called the "USB condom", though now it is known as a data blocker, a small device you can use to plug in your USB cable before plugging it into a USB port if you absolutely have to use a USB cable. 

• This ensures protection against the transfer of any malware, achieved through the absence of some electrical wires. 
• It is advised you carry your own adapter and charging cable so that you can use an electrical power outlet to charge your phone.
• Additionally, the safest option is to use a power bank and your own cable. 
• You can also carry charging-only cables or "dumb" cables that will ensure no malware is transferred to your device. 

Should you be panicking?

• The warning to avoid using public charging ports has been around for a while. But reports say the warning is based on a hypothetical situation. 
• Technically, it is possible for criminals to alter USB charging ports in a public place to install malware and steal data. But so far, there don't seem to be any case studies, victims of the crime, or criminals. 
• A few years ago, a Facebook post was circulating in India about a businessman from Hyderabad who lost money to "juice jacking". It was later revealed to be fake as there were no records of any such crime. 
• Experts do say that it is possible that "juice jacking" is used against targeted persons rather than random strangers.  

Regardless of the possibilities, it is better to be safe than sorry. It doesn't take too much to carry an adapter and a charging cable as you travel and there are definitely no dearth of AC power outlets. Also, there are power banks to help you out of such a situation.

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