Have you ever heard of juice jacking? If not, you might want to read this…

The widespread use of smartphones has shaped our everyday lives in a way that only the most inspired minds would have imagined it, we can almost say that our lives revolve around it. Mobile devices allow us to stay connected with our loved ones, keep us informed with the latest news and you even run your entire business from it.

However, all of this can take a serious toll on your battery life, and that public charging kiosk can seem like a lifesaver. While it might indeed be, it can also make you a victim of a cyberattack called juice jacking.

This type of attack takes place when you connect your device using a USB data/power cable to a public kiosk, these cables have a flaw that can be exploited by cybercriminals and extract or inject malicious code in your device. As your phone begins to charge, it also connects to a computer concealed within the charging stand providing access to all of the information in your device, such as phone numbers, addresses, photos, etc. It can even create a full backup of your phone that can be accessed by a hacker wirelessly at any time.

Here are some tips on how to avoid being juice jacked:

- Keep your battery full- Make it a habit to charge your phone at home or at the office while you are not using it, this way you won’t run out of battery when you are out and about.

2- Carry a personal charger- External batteries like power banks have become very small and portable in the past years, making them perfect to carry with you when you are on the go.

3- Lock your phone- Without the proper PIN code or fingerprint your phone cannot be paired with the hidden computer inside the kiosk.

4- If you absolutely need to use a third party power source, use power only USB cable- These types of cables are missing the two wires necessary for data transmission.

If you want to learn more about how to protect your gadgets and your network, do not hesitate to get in contact with us. Our team of experts are here to help you.