Charging your phone at the airport could be putting you in danger of getting hacked

When you're packing your carry-on bag for a flight, there are certain non-negotiables that everyone brings.Passport? Check. Water bottle? Check. Phone and charger? Check.But if you are plugging your phone in at the airport for a boost of juice before boarding could actually be making you vulnerable to hackers.READ MORE: Daydream Island: The perfect family escape where kids eat for freeEmily Stallings, co-founder of tech retailer Casely, says that by plugging your phone into a power outlet at a public USB charging station, you're at risk of data breaches and malware infection."If a device gets infected, it could end up leaking sensitive information or even stop working properly," she shares.Public USB ports can be compromised by cybercriminals, allowing them to steal sensitive information transmitted between devices."From personal emails to financial data, the information intercepted through these compromised ports could lead to identity theft, financial loss, and other serious consequences," explains Stallings.READ MORE: Travel expert shares her best tips for beating jet lag and dehydration on planesThe best way to get around this threat – without letting your phone run out of battery – is to pack a portable charging device in your carry-on bag every time you travel. With your own cord and power bank, it's far less likely that any nefarious hackers will be able to access your device's data.Stallings says you can also enable security features such as USB Restricted Mode on your device, for those moments when you're desperate for a charger but don't have one."This adds an extra layer of protection against potential data breaches and malware infections when charging from public USB ports.""By activating USB Restricted Mode or similar security features, you restrict data transfer over USB connections, effectively preventing unauthorised access to your device's data while charging in public spaces."It's also helpful to keep your phone's software updated. This means that it'll have the latest security patches and bug fixes, making it less vulnerable to cybercriminals.Another thing to be wary of is what you do while connected to public Wi-Fi networks – like the free internet at airports.READ MORE: Data reveals the Aussie airport with the best Wi-Fi in the country... and the one with the worstKeep your internet activity to casual browsing unless you know you're on a secure connection. Refrain from doing anything like online banking or accessing personal accounts in public - these networks are much easier for criminals to hack into.You could even consider using a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your internet traffic and add an extra layer of security.FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest travel news and deals via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.