FBI warns: Risks of public smartphone chargers and how to stay safe

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned about using public smartphone chargers. The concern is the threat of so-called "juice jacking," a potential attack that can occur while charging a phone in public places. However, there is a way to protect oneself from such an attack.

Anyone may encounter the need to charge a smartphone in a public place. However, according to the FBI warning, using public chargers with USB ports carries a significant risk.

The danger is that these chargers cannot only deliver energy but also interact with our devices, which can lead to the theft of personal data.

Muhammad Yahya Patel, the chief security engineer at Check Point Software, confirms that public charging stations are rarely monitored for security, which poses a threat to their users. However, Patel suggests a simple method to avoid such situations.

"When charging your phone in public places, you should use your own cable and plug, and use a traditional electrical outlet or a cable that does not support data transfer," advises Patel. "Hackers use the charging port as a medium to transmit data. They can thereby install a tracking program or take screen captures," he adds.

Alternatively, to avoid the threat of juice jacking, you can carry your own power bank. However, remember that data theft from a phone can happen through various methods, not just through a suspicious charging station or cable.

Sometimes, merely installing an infected app unknowingly, even if it comes from the official Google Play store, is enough.