Journalism of Courage
This is an archive article published on April 11, 2023
Beware of public chargers: FBI advises carrying your own power adapter
According to the Bureau, "bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices."
FBI Denver warns users not to borrow public chargers (Image credit: FBI Denver)
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Beware of public chargers: FBI advises carrying your own power adapter
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If you are an avid traveller or someone who works from a café, you might not think twice before charging your phone, tablet, or laptop using a public charger. While there have always been controversies regarding the use of a public charger, the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) gives several reasons why using a public charger could be a bad idea.
According to a tweet by FBI Denver, it is suggested not to use a public charger in places like airports, hotels, or shopping centers. When it says “public charger,” it means a wall plug with a built-in USB-A or USB Type-C port. Instead, the Federal Bureau suggests people carry their own power adapter, data cable, and use the power socket to charge devices.
Avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers. Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices. Carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead. pic.twitter.com/9T62SYen9T
— FBI Denver (@FBIDenver) April 6, 2023
According to the Bureau, “bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices,” which makes borrowing a charger from an unknown or even using one from a public place a risky business.
With this, hackers could easily install a malware app on your phone or computer and then use the same to gain access to various services, and could even steal personal data and money. Hence, it is not advised to use a pre-built USB port or borrow a charging cable from a stranger, which could easily transmit the data wirelessly to a remote device.
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