How to Avoid Getting Your Phone Infected from a Public USB Charging Station

Remote and mobile working is on the rise. IDC projects that, by 2024, mobile workers will account for nearly 60% of the total US workforce. While mobile working is a great workplace perk and can lead to higher levels of productivity, it’s not without its risks – especially when it comes to security. 

Most recently, a new mobile threat has hit the headlines and is causing concern among state officials. The threat is concerned with public USB charging stations. 

If you let your employees work from anywhere at any time, you need to be in the know about this threat. 

Below, we’ll explain everything there is to know about this increasing security risk and offer you some tips that your employees can use to stay safe while working out and about. If you’d like to learn more about mobile security and how to improve it, read this blog on mobile security risks too. 

What is a Public USB Charging Station?

Public USB charging stations are electric outlets that are fitted with ready to use USB ports. Often, these ports are free to use, making them an appealing option to people whose phones are on low battery while out in public.

Typically, these USB charging stations are found in high-traffic locations like airports, train stations, libraries and shopping centers. 

While being able to charge your device for free is certainly handy, it’s not necessarily secure, as we’ll explore below. 

What Are The Security Risks Associated With USB Charging Stations?

Cybercriminals are always looking for novel ways to steal data and money from their victims. As USB charging stations have grown in popularity, hackers have taken note and have started to use these stations for their own bidding. This new form of attack is what’s known as juice jacking. 

You see, USB charging ports aren’t just for charging our devices. These ports are also used to share data between two different devices – as is the case when you plug your phone into your laptop via USB. 

Because USB charging stations enable data transfer, hackers can use them to steal data or to launch malware like ransomware or spyware. 

Indeed, while a USB charging station is safe if it’s not compromised, it’s all too easy for a skilled hacker to break into one of these stations and infect it with malicious code. 

In line with this, we’ve seen state officials warn about the juice jacking threat. In Los Angeles, for example, the Deputy District Attorney said: “You might have seen a public USB charging station at an airport or shopping center. But be warned, a free charge could end up draining your bank account.”

While this warning is for LA folks, it’s very possible that the juice jacking trend is also impacting USB charging stations in Tennessee too. You and your employees need to be aware! 

What Is the Fallout of a Successful Juice Jacking Attack?

Depending on the hacker’s tactics, a successful juice jacking attack could result in: 

• Loss of critical business data
• A ransomware attack 
• Financial fraud
• Highly-targeted phishing scams 

The threat isn’t one to be taken lightly. After all, research shows that a data breach costs an average of $108,000 for SMBs! 

While the juice jacking threat is undoubtedly intimidating, it’s also very straightforward to protect against. We advise sharing the following tips with your employees to help them avoid a juice jacking attack. 

It may also be worth hosting a security training session on juice jacking with your managed IT provider, so your employees can ask any questions they have about staying secure while working on the go. 

With regards to using USB charging stations, our advice is to never use them. It’s impossible to tell whether a charging station has been compromised or not. Instead of putting your devices and data at risk, consider investing in a portable battery charging bank instead.

These charging banks tend to be cheap and often offer multiple charges in one go, making them a great option for charging devices on the go. 

If your employees don’t want to spend extra on a charging unit, then another option is to always remember your phone charger when you go out. Most restaurants and cafes have electrical outlets that are free to use. 

Using these outlets with your own charger is much safer than plugging into a USB station, so always remember your charger when you head out to avoid the stress of realizing your phone has a low battery! 

Let us take care of your mobile security strategy for you! 

Unbound Digital can help your Johnson City, Tennessee business stay secure and efficient with a mobile security strategy. 

Contact us today to schedule a consultation. Call 423-467-7777 or reach us online.