The FBI warns about public USB charging ports

The FBI warns that anyone who needs to charge their smartphone on the go should not do so at public charging stations. “Avoid free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping malls,” the US National Security Agency tweeted.

The reason for the warning? According to the FBI, criminals use public USB ports to install malware and surveillance software on other devices.

The online magazine Techradar explains how this works. The attackers could use specially prepared USB cables from such charging stations to transmit not only the power for charging, but also data.

As a result, criminals could track keystrokes and even steal passwords and personal information. The FBI therefore advises: “Bring your own charger and USB cable and use a wall outlet instead.”

Beware of public Wi-Fi hotspots

The US authority also warns when using public wireless networks. “Be careful when connecting to a public Wi-Fi network,” it says. This also poses a security risk because attackers can use it to track monetary transactions, such as purchases made in online stores.

The FBI advises users to always keep their system and software up to date to protect themselves against attacks on their smartphones.

(t online)