Beware of Charging in Public Places
Through its tweets on Twitter, the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) warns the citizen not to use accessible public charging facilities in public places such as airports, malls, and hotels. Why should these facilities not be used? What is the cause?
Malicious actors or hackers have found a way to use public USB ports to insert malware and monitoring software onto devices. Hackers can use infected machines to access information on the victim's phone or tablet. Therefore, the FBI suggests using USB cables, charging plugs, portable chargers, or external batteries.
Smartphones can hack while charging using a standard USB connection connected to a computer. To prevent the risk of such possible attacks, Kaspersky Lab suggests the following:
- Only use trusted USB charging stations and computers to charge your device.
- Protect your smartphone with a password or other methods, such as fingerprint recognition, and do not unlock it while charging.
- Use encryption technology and secure containers (protected areas on mobile devices used to isolate sensitive information) to protect data.
- Protect your mobile device and PC/Mac from malware with the help of proven security solutions. This action will help to detect malware even if using vulnerable 'charging'.
The FBI offers similar guidance on its website to avoid public charging facilities. However, the guide does not show examples of consumer harm from such hijacking. Guidance link: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/on-the-internet
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has also warned about "Juice Jacking" as a malware-loading scheme since 2021. Consumer devices with compromised USB cables can hijack through software that retrieves the victim's data, such as usernames and passwords. The FCC also told consumers to avoid such public stations.
Reference:
https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/tech/20230411114653-37-428898/ada-peringatan-dari-fbi-jangan-cas-hp-di-sini
https://travel.detik.com/travel-news/d-6675756/awas-fbi-sarankan-hindari-ngecas-hp-di-bandara-mal
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