Gerd Altmann, Pixabay)”>Public charging stations pose risks to data security (Image: Gerd Altmann, Pixabay)
Who hasn’t had this happen to them many times: Suddenly their cell phone battery is empty. This is annoying and stressful. The search for freely accessible charging stations usually ends in hotels, shopping centers, coffee shops or at the airport, where business travelers or private individuals can quickly charge their battery for free – provided they have the charging cable with them.
But such public charging stations are often a source of danger: The American Federal Police FBI warns travelers in the USA not to charge their mobile devices at a public charging station. The reason: criminals could easily gain access to the devices.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigatives (FBI), cybercriminals have found ways to use public USB ports to deliver their malware and surveillance software to devices. Therefore, business travelers should always carry their own charger and USB cable and use an electrical outlet to charge.
Public charging stations transmit malware
The focus is mainly on public USB-connections. Specifically, the FBI recommends: “Avoid free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping malls. Criminals have found ways to use public USB ports to Malware and surveillance software on devices.” Particularly common in public places at present are USB-A ports to find.
The public USB ports can be used Malware on your smartphone A USB port is also used for data transfer. This is one of the reasons why the connection is so popular – even among criminals. According to the FBI, the method used is called “Juice Jacking“. There are more and more such actions.
The “tapped” charging station is prepared in such a way that it also transmits sensitive data while charging – hence the urgent warning from the FBI. This is because fraudsters can do a lot with the data. Among other things, identity theft is possible in order to then access the victims’ credit card details.
What dangers lurk at charging stations
The US Secret Service offers more tips and information on how to protect yourself from cyberattacks National Security Agency (NSA) on its website Best-Practice-Dokument for smartphone users to protect themselves from hacker attacks – but also from access by the secret service itself. The NSA itself is advanced wiretapping and hacking methods that many cyber criminals can only dream of.
Best practice document from the US secret service NSA with important tips on how to use your cell phone properly
For optimal protection, the Use of biometric unlocking methods and the use of a six-digit code is recommended according to the NSA. Users should generally never open pop-ups and attachments in messages or emails.
The intelligence experts advise using only original charging cables or charging cables from trustworthy manufacturers. Under no circumstances should you connect your smartphone to public charging stations. Restart the device every week
The NSA recommends, among other things, restarting the smartphone at least once a week. According to the secret service’s overview table, this can prevent attacks such as Spearphishing and Zero Click Exploits The latter are particularly dangerous because they can install malware on the smartphone without the user’s intervention.
However, both types of attacks go through a longer process in which so-called Payloads with the malware only delivered after communication with a server. A restart can interrupt this process.
Users should also only turn on Bluetooth and WiFi when they really need the functions. WiFi networks NSA strongly advises against this and recommends deleting unused networks.
The results of a 2018 CWT study on data security on business trips
You should also only install apps when you really need them – and then only from official app stores (Apple App Store and Google Play Store). If you follow these measures, you can effectively protect yourself and your company from the dangers of cybercrime on business trips.
More on the topic
Cybercrime: The danger comes from within
Cyber security is a must in companies
How to prevent unwanted tracking!
Fraud, scammers and data thieves: what to do?
Cyber attacks are becoming increasingly dangerous
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