Do you usually charge your cell phone on public chargers? Learn what to do to avoid Juice Jacking

What if an unknown person used a USB-C port to launch a cyberattack on a mobile phone that was recharging its battery from a public charger? It is likely a case of Juice Jacking, which can literally be translated as “stolen juice”, but has very serious consequences if you divert your access credentials to Internet services or infect devices that connect to public chargers at airports and malls with malicious code. The technique has been known since 2011, but it made a comeback in the headlines after the FBI recommended stopping public uploads to avoid cyberattacks.

“Avoid using charging stations at airports, hotels, or shopping centers. Malicious people have found ways to use public USB ports to insert malicious code and device control software. Take your own charger and USB cable with you and use an outlet instead,” the FBI delegation warned. The US city of Denver, in a statement posted on Twitter.