Have you heard of “juice jacking”?
Well if you’ve ever been ‘on the go’ and running low on battery on your smartphone, you’ll want to read on…
Since we’ve become so dependent on our devices, I wanted to make you aware of a potentially new security threat. And yes, it’s called “juice jacking”.
According to Wikipedia, juice jacking is a type of cyber-attack involving a charging port that doubles as a data connection, typically over USB. This often involves either installing malware or surreptitiously copying sensitive data from a smart phone, tablet, or other computer device.
That’s right, hackers have discovered a new way to steal your data.
The supposed threat is fortunately not widespread at this time, but it’s something to certainly be aware of. It involves public USB charging stations where you connect your phone to a charging cord that’s provided. Or where you plug in your own charging cord to an available USB port.
You’ve probably seen these charging kiosks at airports and other public venues where lots of people gather. I am not suggesting that all charging stations are compromised. But apparently there are some bad actors who have figured out how to download malware to unsuspecting users to steal the data and passwords stored on your phone.
“How-To Geek” listed some precautions you can take, including:
- Keep your devices topped off
- Carry a personal charger
- Carry a backup battery
- Carry a “power only” cable
So the best advice for charging your phone at this time is to use an AC power outlet with your own charging brick and cable.
Here are some articles that provide additional details:
- https://www.howtogeek.com/166497/htg-explains-what-is-juice-jacking-and-how-worried-should-you-be/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/18/technology/personaltech/usb-warning-juice-jacking.html
- https://techcrunch.com/2019/11/15/los-angeles-juice-jacking-usb/
- https://www.ficpa.org/content/News/BizTechNews/TechTips/Juice-Jacking-Protect-Your-Devices.aspx
- https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/juice-jacking-real-security-issue/
And before we go, your IDeACOM team would like to wish you and your family the very best during this holiday season.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
And cheers to a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year!!!
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