In train stations, airports and elsewhere, USB charging stations are exposed to so-called “juice jacking”. This attack aims to compromise devices, such as smartphones.
Your phone can be hacked and siphoned of its data by simply being plugged into a public USB charging station, yes. This practice has a name: juice jacking. While there is no question of panicking anyone, the attack is unfortunately becoming more and more common, in addition to exposing a large number of users. By following some valuable advice, it is still possible to protect yourself.
Juice jacking, this practice which consists of manipulating USB charging stations and threatens your data
In a very concrete way, the juice jacking involves installing a modified charger or cable, from a public USB charging station for example, to compromise all devices that will connect to it, and inject malware.
Public USB charging stations, which are the most classic case of juice jacking, are present almost everywhere today. They are found in places such as train stations, airports, hotels, shopping centers, libraries, museums, cafes and restaurants, and even in certain cinemas.
If you ever connect your smartphone to a terminal that has become malicious, the software that is installed on your device can steal your banking data, take control of the machine and obviously spy on your communications. With all the attendant risks: identity theft, device blocking, ransom demands and others. “ But how do you know that the charging station is “rotten”, you ask? » There are, rest assured, solutions.
Essential advice to avoid the risk of hacking at public USB charging stations
Protect yourself from juice jacking, it’s possible, yes. The simplest thing is obviously not to charge your devices on public terminals. And what’s better than having your own external battery? If you do not have an external battery but you have your charger with you in addition to the USB-C cable, then choose to recharge from a mains outlet.
The idea is “ to only use public USB charging stations if absolutely necessary », notes André Benhamou, member of the management committee at Communalis. Among other solutions, we can advise you to be very careful if the USB terminal seems damaged, if it seems to have barely been reassembled (or vice versa). You can also use a USB cable which is only used to charge your device, not to synchronize your data.
Finally, we can advise you to install an antivirus on your smartphone, and activate the device’s airplane mode, while you recharge it. With all these tips, you should in theory avoid any hacking while traveling. Because you can never be too careful in life.
Source: LinkedIn post @André_Benhamou
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