Many individuals frequently go to coffee shops, stores, and other locations with charging ports when their phone’s battery runs low. Today, however, even seemingly ordinary actions like this can make them fall victim to cyber fraud. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reportedly issued a cautionary message to cellphone users advising them against charging their devices via public chargers due to security threats presented by 'juice jacking'. In this type of attack, hackers manipulate public USB charging stations by installing malware on them or altering their hardware, which enables them to steal data from linked devices. When unsuspecting users plug their devices into such compromised charging ports, cyber criminals can siphon off personal data or install malware onto the connected device and even device encryption with ransom demands. While using a public charging kiosk, it is safer to switch off the device before charging. One should avoid public charging ports or portable wall chargers. Only wall sockets should be used for charging the mobile. It is best to avoid using public Wi-Fi while charging the phone, especially if one plans to access the bank account or conduct any financial transactions. It is advisable to carry a phone charger with built-in data blocker and a power bank when travelling.
