Experts warn fliers 'never' charge phone at the airport
After a long day at the airport or while waiting during a layover, it can often be tempting to plug your phone into a public charging station at the airport to get it back to 100%. However, travel experts are now warning flyers that this seemingly harmless habit could come with serious risks.
According to specialists at Wild Packs American Summer Camp, using public USB charging ports at airports could put travellers' personal and banking information at risk of theft. A prior warning by the FBI revealed that cybercriminals have "figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware" into phones, thereby compromising your data.
Alarmingly, 40% of smartphone users are already running their devices with known vulnerabilities, making them more likely to be targeted.
Jamie Fraser, travel expert at Wild Packs American Summer Camp, has explained exactly why you should avoid charging your phone at a public plug and what protective measures you should take.
He reveals: "It might seem harmless to plug your phone into a public USB port while waiting for a flight, but doing so could put your data at serious risk."
"Authorities like the FBI have previously warned travellers not to use these charging points in public places such as airports, hotels, and shopping centres - and there are three serious reasons why."
Hidden Malware Threats
"Public USB ports can be compromised by cybercriminals to install harmful software onto your phone without your knowledge," the expert states.
Once installed this malware can operate silently in the background "including your passwords, banking details, and personal files."
The expert warns: "You wouldn't know it's happening until it's too late."
Juice Jacking
The tactic known as 'juice jacking' involves hackers tampering with public charging stations, so when you "plug in your device malware is installed".
"This tricks your phone into trusting the connection, giving criminals access to your private data. Once your phone is infected, it remains at risk even after you leave the airport," the expert says.
Data Leaks
Even if the charging station hasn't been tampered with there is still a risk. The expert explains: "Even if the charging point hasn't been altered, there's still a chance that your phone could share data unintentionally. Some public charging stations can transfer both power and data, and your phone might not properly distinguish between the two."
"This opens the door to potential data interception, with stolen information being used for identity fraud."
How to safely charge your phone at the airport
Bringing a portable charger along next time you are travelling, Jamie says: "These gadgets can keep your phone charged throughout your journey, so you're not left risking your device on unfamiliar charging stations."
If you need to charge your phone at the airport and have forgotten a portable charger, then it is best to use a regular wall outlet and your own charger. The expert warns against USB ports, saying: "USB ports can be tampered with more easily and may pose a greater security risk."
The expert also recommends using a USB data blocker, explaining: "A USB data blocker is a small gadget that attaches to your charging cable and stops any data from being transferred, only power gets through.
It's a simple way to protect your phone if you have no choice but to use a public USB port."
Another hack for charging your phone at the airport would be to turn your phone off before plugging it in. Jame expresses: "Switching your phone off before plugging it into a public USB port won't eliminate the risk completely, but it can lower the chance of malware being installed in some situations."
You should also disable data transfer, when charging your phone inside the airport. Jamie explains that this "ensures the cable is only used for charging and not for sharing personal information.
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