You might want to bring a power bank on your next trip to the airport. Rising concerns over airport charging points being used for malicious scams have urged airports to issue a warning to passengers. Emily Stallings, co-founder of tech retailer Casely, says public USB charging ports are prime targets for cyber threats .
Unfortunately, hackers can now exploit these ports to install malware on phones and laptops. Read more: FBI warns travellers not to use public charging ports at airports, hotels The FBI’s Denver branch issued a warning on Facebook , “Avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centres. Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices.
” Criminals use a technique known as “ juice jacking ”, which involves hackers tampering with ports, waiting for unsuspecting travellers to plug in. Once connected, the corrupted USB port can install software that locks devices, monitors keystrokes or exports personal data. This can result in identity theft and financial loss , since the stolen information can give access to online accounts, personal information, photos, bank details and more.
Unfortunately, unsuspecting travellers who are looking forward to a holiday may not notice the unusual activity on their accounts, making it difficult to secure their devices or contact fraud teams from abroad. What’s worse, cybercriminals ensure there are minimal visible signs of tampering,.