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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a warning against using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centres.
"Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices," the FBI said in a statement.
A similar warning was issued by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2021 referring to the trend as "juice jacking".
"Cybersecurity experts have warned that criminals can load malware onto public USB charging stations to maliciously access electronic devices while they are being charged," the FCC said.
"Malware installed through a dirty USB port can lock a device or export personal data and passwords directly to the perpetrator. Criminals can use that information to access online accounts or sell it to other bad actors. In some cases, criminals have left cables plugged in at the stations. Fraudsters may even give you infected cables as a promotional gift."
They shared the following tips to stay safe:
- Avoid using a USB charging station. Use an AC power outlet instead.
- Bring AC, car chargers, and your own USB cables with you when travelling.
- Carry a portable charger or external battery.
- Consider carrying a charging-only cable, which prevents data from sending or receiving while charging, from a trusted supplier.
