Various cyber scams are happening around us. If you are not careful, you may have to pay a heavy price. Our smartphones, which are always connected to the Internet, can be cyber-attacked at any time. Criminals use many methods to break into devices. Kerala Police has warned about such a method called juice jacking.

What is juice jacking?

This is how hackers steal data from devices through free charging points made available in public places. Hackers are targeting free charging points at airports, bus stations, railway stations, parks and malls. They will use USB ports for charging and preprogrammed data cables to exfiltrate information.

The USB plugs provided for charging may have been tampered with. They may have changed the preprogrammed data cable at the charging points as someone forgot it. If the device is connected to this charger cable, hackers will have a victim. Most people use the same cable for charging and data transfer. Criminals take advantage of this opportunity.

What are the Problems?

• Hackers steal passwords used for banking, social media profiles and personal data and gain access to personal accounts. Blackmail with personal data by resetting passwords and driving the original owner out of the device.
• Depending on how long a device is plugged into the cable port, a very large amount of data can be compromised. In juice-jacking attacks, the user does not know that his personal information has been stolen.
• A phone or computer can be tampered with by installing malware through juice-jacking. It can cause major damage, including locking the user out of the device or stealing information.
• Not only can the device plugged into the charger be hacked with malware, but the same malware can also harm other cables and ports.
• Some malware uploaded through the charging device locks the owner out of their device, giving the hacker full control.

How to take precautions?

• Switch off devices when charging from public charging stations.
• Charge with a power bank if possible.
• Always have your AC charging adapter handy. Charge devices only with the adapter.
• Do not charge the phone by connecting the cable directly to the USB slots for charging in public places. Instead, charge the device by connecting the adapter to AC power plugs only.
• Use only non-data-transferable charging cables to charge at USB ports in public places.
• Do not use security methods like pattern lock, fingerprint, password while charging the phone.
• A USB data blocker can be used to ensure that hacking doesn’t happen through the cable.