Charging phones in public places? Beware of the USB charger scam that can drain personal information and even money!

Electronic devices are an indispensable part of our daily lives, so much so that it is inevitable to charge the devices during travel or a usual evening outing with friends and family. Whether at airports, hotels, or cafes, we often depend upon public charging ports to power up the gadgets, especially in emergencies. These charging stations ensure that essential devices don’t run out of battery at important moments. However, as technology advances, so do the risks associated with using it. While we appreciate the accessibility to these USB charging points, it’s important to remain cautious. What seems like only plugging in a device for charging, can also sometimes lead to serious security threats.Risks related to public device charging had previously been brought to public’s attention by a government portal and once again the risk of these scams has been highlighted by a police officer through a video on her social media handle.This type of cyberattack, called ‘juice jacking,’ occurs when an infected charging port or USB cable is used to connect a device. Hackers can then secretly access the device, install malware, or steal sensitive information through the USB connection.DSP Sreshtha Thakur, explained about this scam, about how attackers can use the available pins in a USB cable not just to charge but also to transfer data, making it a vulnerable entry point for cyber threats. View post herePreviously, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), an agency under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, had had posted about this growing threat known as the ‘USB Charger Scam.’ According to CERT-In, cybercriminals may exploit public USB charging ports available at places like airports, hotels, and cafes to carry out harmful activities. CERT-In warns that such attacks may result in data theft or even ransomware, where attackers encrypt the victim’s data and demand payment for its release.DSP also advised the users to use personal devices like laptops for charging over public cable ports. She also said that when a device is plugged into the cable charging port, two options appear on the phone screen– ‘Trust this device’ and ‘Do not trust’, and advised not to click on ‘Trust’ option in order to stay safe.By following these simple steps, users can reduce the chances of falling victim to juice jacking and keep their devices and data secure while making the most of public charging conveniences.