If your cellphone battery is running low, don’t plug it into a USB charging station at the airport or mall, officials are warning consumers as the busy holiday season gets under way.
Those convenient USB charging stations in public places could be loaded with malware by criminals looking to steal your money and identity, warned the Los Angeles district attorney in a recent Twitter post.
This growing cyberthreat, known as Juice Jacking, poses serious risks to smartphones, tablets and computers. A virus can be transferred to unsuspecting users’ devices. Then, the virus begins exporting sensitive data and passwords directly to the scammers.
Use your own charging cord to plug directly into an electrical outlet, pros say.
The warning comes as a record number of travelers get ready to hit the road for Thanksgiving and hot-foot it to malls to buy holiday gifts.
