FBI warns about public phone chargers: What do you know about juice theft

The alert from the FBI is the latest case of the government’s concerns about what’s known as “juice break-in,” a cybercrime in which a hacker uses public USB ports to steal data, such as credit card numbers, or install malware on a user’s device. The term reportedly dates back to 2011, when researchers at DefCon created a charging booth that showed the potential cybersecurity risks of such terminals. Years later, in a world where our smartphones increasingly act as wallets, GPS, photo albums, and a permanent record of our personal communication and browsing history, gaining access to someone’s device can be as practical as breaking into their home.

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Ritesh Chou, Assistant The professor and expert on technology and society at the University of Central Queensland wrote in an email that public charging docks present a “huge risk to privacy”. The research showed that in as little as 10 seconds a malicious charging station could identify web pages loaded on your phone’s browser, it wrote, while “less than one minute of charging time could be enough to compromise a user’s phone.”

Although it’s unclear how common these attacks are, and no cases of victimization have been widely reported, repeated warnings from security agencies around the world “clearly point to the ongoing danger posed by this method of attack,” Chough wrote. Officials raised similar concerns CaliforniaAnd India And Nigeria. The FCC website warns:Don’t let the free USB charging end Drain your bank account.”

We should start thinking about phones like we think about credit cards, says Tony Coulson, executive director of the Center for Cybersecurity at California State University San Bernardino. “You don’t go anywhere and start inserting your debit card,” he says.

It’s like pulling juice with a credit card fast reading. Similar to the magnetic strips on credit cards, which make them vulnerable to security threats, Coulson said, USB technology is outdated, and doesn’t have a lot of security built into it. You can see this just by looking at the USB plug: there are four connectors inside; Two for power, two for data. “There’s no failsafe between them, and once you’re connected — if the data talks, the data talks,” he says.

If you’ve used public charging stations, experts say, beware your phone will lose battery life faster; a significant slowdown in its operations; High temperature. Settings are changed without your input; Unusual data usage. If you think you’ve been affected, they recommend deleting any suspicious apps and installing antivirus software — and if you’re really concerned, returning the phone to its factory settings. You should also keep your phone software up to date.

To avoid becoming a victim in the first place, Coulson encourages adopting newer USB technology (like USB C) or just buying charging cables, which don’t allow for data extraction. Wireless chargers are a safer option, Chu said, with cases of tampering with these devices “pretty much non-existent.”

When you connect a smartphone to a USB port, it may also ask you if you want it Trust the device You call him. This is an indication that USB can do more than just charge. Unless you’re connected to your personal computer, experts say, you should say no.

If you’re in a hurry and need a USB port, check to see if it has four or two connectors inside—many are made with four, but if it has two, it’s only for charging. “but This is not a 100 percent rule,” Coulson warns.

When it comes to his own device, “I only charge my phone with my plug-in charger,” he says. “I’ve been doing this for years.”