Public USB Phone Charging Scam: Indian Govt Says Don’t Ever Use These Chargers

The Indian government has come out with a stern warning for smartphone users recently, warning them against using public charging ports. That’s right, many of you might have seen charging stations with USB ports at airports, hotels and even cafes that might help you in emergencies but it could come at a cost. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team or CERT-In has shared this security tip in March this year, asking people to beware of the USB charger scam.

What Is Juice Jacking And How It Can Affect You

Public chargers have become a hacker’s paradise that has allowed them to plug devices with malware which can be used to steal confidential data and even your money. This attack also has a term called juice jacking, which is used by the hackers to infect the charging devices with malware.

Juice jacking becomes an easy way to attack users, because people will always need their phones to be charged, especially when they are flying. The CERT-In warning says, “Cyber criminals may use USB charging ports installed at public places for malicious activities, and charging your electronic device at such infected USB charging stations may make you a victim of juice jacking.”

The security agency warns that if hackers get access to your device, they can install malicious apps to infect and steal your data. We have come across similar security warnings from the FBI last year, and now the Indian government is warning its citizens of these attacks.

The CERT-In advisory comes with a set of best practices that every smartphone user should follow:

– Think twice before using public charging stations or chargers

– Use electrical wall outlet to charge your mobile device

– Always carry your own power bank or power cable

– Lock your mobile device and disable pairing with connected device

– Try to charge your phone when it is switched off

We use our mobile for pretty much everything these days, which includes ordering food, making payments, booking a cab or even buying tickets. Imagine if a hacker manages to bypass your device security and gets hold of these details, you could easily lose money from your bank account. So, take this warning seriously and protect your device from possible attacks.