Public Charging Port: Smartphone has become our biggest necessity while travelling. Tickets, maps, hotel booking, payments and contacting loved ones, everything depends on mobile. In such a situation, when the battery of the phone starts draining, then the public charging ports installed at the railway station, airport, bus stand or mall do not seem like a relief to us. But do you know that this relief can become a big danger for you?
Why can public charging ports be dangerous?
Public charging ports not only provide electricity but also have the capability of data transfer. Cyber experts call this threat “juice jacking”. In this, hackers can send malware to your phone or steal your personal information through the charging port or cable. The user doesn’t even realize that the phone has already been compromised.
What information can be leaked?
If your phone gets connected to a public charging port, your photos, contacts, emails, banking apps, OTP, social media accounts and even passwords can be at risk. In some cases, hackers can also gain remote control over your phone, which can lead to financial loss in the future.
Why are travelers easy prey?
People are tired during travel and take decisions in a hurry. The need for charging seems so urgent that there is no time to think about safety. Cyber criminals take advantage of this carelessness. Especially the combination of free Wi-Fi and public charging is considered very risky.
How to keep yourself safe?
Always keep your charger and power bank with you while travelling. If using public charging is absolutely necessary, use only electric sockets and avoid USB ports. Keep charge only mode on in the phone and do not allow any unknown pop-ups or permissions. Apart from this, always keep the software updates and security features of the phone on.
A little caution, big safety
Public charging ports may seem like an easy solution, but the danger hidden behind them can harm both your hard-earned money and personal information. Next time when you feel like charging your phone while traveling, then stop for a moment and think whether this facility is becoming burdensome for you? A little wisdom can save you from big cyber losses.
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