Traveling soon? Be wary of Juice-Jacking!

Be cautious if you're traveling: public USB charging stations are perfect bait for hackers to slip malware onto your device or siphon off your data - otherwise known as Juice-Jacking.

Sometimes, though, you're stuck at the airport, with a phone at 2% and a call you need to make before takeoff! What then?

If you’re forced to top off your battery in a pinch, here’s how to stay charged without getting juice jacked:

• Check for tampering, such as loose parts, glue, or mismatched components, on chargers or cables.

• Use your own charger and cable, especially when traveling, to avoid compromised hardware.

• Carry a charge-only cable (or USB data blocker) to prevent data transfer.

• Avoid free USB drives or cables, which may contain malware.

• Watch for unexpected prompts like “Trust this computer” when plugging in.

• Disable USB data access by default—on Android, set USB mode to “No data transfer.”

Remember, none of these precautions are foolproof. If you're unsure about the security/safety of the charging station, skip it altogether and let your phone die. It's better to wait until you can charge from a trusted port, than risk getting hacked.

One more thought: Think of your security while packing. Purchase a portable power bank (or portable battery charger), and skip the sketchy charging stations in the first place!

For more information about juice jacking, check this article out: https://www.fcc.gov/juice-jacking-tips-to-avoid-it?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=e036_05.30.25&utm_content=B&utm_term=cybersecurity-insider-active