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03
Jun
2019
Stop Charging Your Phone in Public Ports

Stop Charging Your Phone in Public Ports

Posted by navitend

We all know that feeling; your battery is low, but you just have to post that status update! Maybe you just got to the airport and your phone’s dead, but you have to get an Uber – so what do you do? You see a USB port or an outlet in a public place and of course, you’re going to plug in your device, so you can feel the sweet relief of your phone charging. Bad idea. Here's why you must stop charging your phone in public ports. 

The Woes of Public Phone Chargers 

Unfortunately, that comfort could be shattered by an invisible attacker, collecting information while your phone is plugged into a hacked outlet. Just by plugging your phone into a power strip or charger, your device is now infected, compromising all your data. Public charging stations and Wi-Fi access points are found in places like airports, planes, conference centers, malls, and parks to name a few, making sure people can always have access to their phones and data.

But, connecting your phone to an unknown port has its risks. The cord you use to charge your phone is also used to send data from your phone to other devices. For instance, when you plug your smartphone into your computer with the charging cord, you can download photos from your phone to your computer. If a port is compromised, there’s no limit to what information a hacker could take. That includes your emails, texts messages, photos, and contacts. It’s called “juice jacking”. Using hacked ports and your phone’s video display, hackers can record everything you type and look at.

Battery Pack to the Rescue

Despite the risks, public charging stations are extremely popular.  Many times there’s not even an open port for you to use… But that’s not a bad thing. Instead of charging in public, invest in a portable USB battery pack. You can also buy USB cords that are specifically meant for charging and cannot transfer your phone’s data. The best way to avoid falling victim to juice jacking is to not use public USB ports but instead, rely on your own personal charger.

If you want more security tips - visit the navitend blog or feel free to call Patrice at 973-448-0070 ext 312.

Contact us at 973.448.0070

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