Travel Tech Safety: Tips to Avoid Juice Jacking at Airports

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Upon arriving at the airport, many people's first thought is to contact family or loved ones. However, if their phones ran out of battery during the flight, the next stop is often an airport charging station. This habit, it turns out, can pose a risk to your personal data security.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) warns travelers to think twice before charging their phones at public USB charging stations in airports.

In a Facebook post, the TSA reminded the public that hackers can install malware on USB ports, a practice known as juice jacking or port jacking.

"So, when you’re at an airport, do not plug your phone directly into a USB port. Bring your TSA-compliant power brick or battery pack and plug in there," the TSA advised.

What is Juice Jacking

Juice jacking refers to a cyberattack where criminals install malware on public charging stations to steal data from connected devices. According to digital forensics expert Calum Baird, juice jacking is largely theoretical. Despite occasional alarming warnings circulating online, he has not encountered any actual cases in his professional experience.

"I see it pop up online every now and then, but most, if not all, modern smartphones now require confirmation prior to data transfer via USB," Baird said as quoted from Travel+Leisure.

He added that if travelers encounter compromised charging stations, most modern devices have built-in protections. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) echoed a similar sentiment, stating they are not aware of any confirmed cases of juice jacking.

However, travelers should be more concerned about USB-C cables or ports. "Shady USB-C cables likely pose the greater risk, partly because the dangers of public charging ports are more widely known," said Danny Jenkins, co-founder and CEO of ThreatLocker.

He observed that travelers are now more aware of the dangers associated with public charging stations and are more cautious in using them. However, he underlined that purchasing cheap charging cables from questionable vendors at airport stores or online markets without a second thought can still leave vulnerabilities when attackers gain access to new USB technologies and attempt to bypass these protections.

Protecting Against Juice Jacking

Although actual reports of juice jacking cases are rare, it is wise to take preventive measures just in case. Jenkins suggests using portable battery packs. If there is no other option but to use a public charging station, check the USB port area for signs of tampering.

Baird advises checking your phone when you plug it in. "If it's asking you to trust a device you've connected to, decline,” he says. “It doesn't need data transfer to charge," he said.

TSA Warning

In addition to cautioning about charging stations, the TSA also warns about the dangers of Wi-Fi hacking, "especially if you're planning to make any online purchases. Do not ever enter any sensitive info while using unsecure WiFi," as quoted by Entrepreneur. To be safer, travelers should use their phone's data or activate a VPN when connected to public Wi-Fi.

Editor's Choice: 3 Things to Consider Before Using Public Wi-Fi at Airports

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