Criminals now use public USB charging to juice jack phones – Experts

By Ugo Onwuaso |   14 February 2020   |   4:15 am  

PHOTO: Forbes

Cyber security experts have advised people to avoid using public charging stations because scammers are gaining access to download malware to phones, causing them to run slow or lose battery life more quickly.

It’s referred to as “juice jacking”, and described as clear and present danger.

The most vulnerable are public charging stations on the roadside, malls, hotels, and airports.

According to Sisak, “juice jacking” is a USB charging scam where criminals load dangerous software onto the public stations or cables that are used to plug in phones.

Within minutes of “juicing” or charging a phone, the malware can cause unsuspecting owners to have their devices “jacked,” which means they could be locked or have their private data and passwords released to the scammer.

“Hackers and scam artists have found a way to upload malware into those charging stations, that when you plug the phone in it very well could download a malware into your phone,” said Kelvin Collins with the BBB of Central Georgia.

Collins said the way to combat this is to simply bring your own brick charger with the cord.

Cyber security experts also advise that you keep your phone up to date and make sure you’re devices are operating on anti-virus software.

You may also like

1 day ago
Payment infrastructure company, Zone has raised $8.5 million in an oversubscribed seed funding round led by reputable VC firms, Flourish Ventures and TLcom Capital.
1 day ago
The International Data Corporation (IDC) has reported smartphone shipments in Africa were up 12 per cent year-on-year in Q4 2023 to 19.8 million units, due in part to strong uptake of low-end Chinese brands across the region.
1 day ago
Following the successful hosting of Nigeria’s first-ever tech ecosystem mixer, DICE, Beyond Limits, a pan-African organisation at the forefront of driving digital transformation, excellence, and growth in individuals and organisations - has revealed that preparations are in top gear for the second edition to hold in April 2024. DICE, an acronym for Digital Innovation and…