Tech experts issue 'juice jacking' warning to never share your phone charger
Technology experts are warning the public against ever accepting a phone charging cable from a stranger. While it may seem a harmless and generous gesture for someone to offer you a charger when you're low on juice, it may actually put your personal information and data at risk.
Malicious charging cables are a fast-growing threat facing mobile users, according to security professionals, and it's one that many of us aren't aware of. Known as 'juice jacking', hackers can steal everything from your passwords to your personal photos and information using cables that look identical to legitimate phone chargers.
While tampered public charging stations were already a commonly known tech threat, fraudsters have now evolved to target vulnerable individuals with low phone charge when they're out in public.
Criminals are creating cables that look identical to genuine Apple or Android products but contain hidden computer chips capable of logging keystrokes, stealing credentials, and even providing remote access to your device.
A tech expert from Outplayed explains: "The sophistication of these attacks has reached a truly alarming level.
"There's been a massive increase in these cables that are virtually indistinguishable from legitimate Apple products, yet they're essentially miniature computers designed to harvest your data."
The USB technology that powers your gadget is also responsible for handling data transfer in your device, which hackers can exploit.
When you plug into a malicious cable, it can automatically access your device's contents, often bypassing the security prompts that would normally alert you to data transfer attempts, explained the expert.
And that's not all. Recent developments have made these cyber attacks even more dangerous through 'choice jacking' techniques, which can actually confirm data transfer permissions on your behalf without any user interaction.
This means even built-in security measures can be dodged by sophisticated malicious hardware used by the cyber crooks. The expert adds: "What makes this particularly concerning is that these cables function perfectly as chargers.
"Victims often have no idea they've been compromised until it's too late. The cable charges your phone normally while secretly communicating with attackers over Wi-Fi in the background."
It's vital to remain vigilant, as these attacks can happen anywhere– from borrowing a cable at work to using one offered by a well-meaning friend at a coffee shop.
Some malicious cables can even simulate keyboard inputs, effectively typing commands into your phone without your knowledge.
The security professionals advise phone owners to always use their own charging cable and adapter, especially in public spaces like airports or hotels. If you must charge in public, stick to wall outlets with your own equipment rather than USB charging stations.
For added security, consider investing in a USB data blocker - a cheap adapter that physically prevents data transfer while allowing charging current to flow. These small devices create a barrier between your phone and potentially malicious cables.
If you're looking to invest in one, there are plenty of options, such as this ' anti-juice jacker ' on Amazon for a tenner, or this one on Currys for £3.99.
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