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The juice isn’t worth the squeeze.
Passengers waiting for their flights can often be seen plugging into the free USB power ports that litter airports around the globe these days.
But while they might seem like a lifesaver for those low on battery, the Transportation Security Administration is warning against the common activity for a surprising reason.
“When you’re at an airport do not plug your phone directly into a USB port,” the TSA warned in a PSA on Facebook.
According to officials, hackers can “install malware” at USB ports in a trend known as “juice/port jacking.”
Cybercriminals can then ransom your device or steal your passwords.
Instead of juicing one’s device using flight hub re-fueling stations, security officials recommend bringing one’s own “TSA-compliant power brick or battery pack” and plugging in there, per the advisory.
TSA officials are echoing warnings by the FBI, FCC, as well as countless techsperts.
Unfortunately, compromised portals aren’t the only way bad actors can yoink data from one’s device.
The TSA also warned against using free public WiFi, especially when making purchases or otherwise entering sensitive information.
As the cybersecurity experts at Norton point out, unencrypted hotspots “transmit data in plain text, making them vulnerable to cybercriminals with the right tools.”
“Hackers on the same network can intercept your online activities, including banking information, login credentials, and personal messages,” they wrote.
And unfortunately, juice port jackers aren’t the only bad actors preying on unsuspecting travelers.
In April, Argentine flight attendant Barbara Bacilieri claimed that thieves are purchasing cheap tickets to access the concourse areas — allowing them to steal from both passengers and duty-free shops without actually having to board a plane.
Some airport burglars even use sophisticated scanners to siphon data from passengers’ credit cards as they brush by them.
This surreptitious card swiping often flies under the radar until days later, when said card’s owner spots an unauthorized transaction (often in a foreign country), making this crime extremely difficult to prevent.