Juice Jacking

When you observe your smartphone's battery is dying, you may not think twice about plugging it in at the nearest USB charging station. Charging your phone at Public Places could empty your bank balance. There is a warning of juice jacking which you need to reconsider. You are completely unaware that your data has been stolen using this method. The data includes all the files from the phone’s contact list, photo gallery to WhatsApp chat, etc.

In the public USB charging station, it is quite possible that someone intentionally loads malware on the USB port or the USB cable attached to steal sensitive data from mobile phones. While your phone is charging, the perpetrator might be able to infect your device with a virus or malware that could track your keystrokes or even steal your data. That’s juice jacking.

Juice jacking does not yet appear to be a widespread threat, but it’s still a good idea to understand your risks and alternatives before giving your battery a boost at public charging stations like those at airports or hotels. On most phones, the data transfer is disabled by default (except on devices running older Android versions), and the connection is only visible on the end that provides the power.

For instance, when you plug your phone into your computer, a message on the computer may ask whether to trust the device. In the case of juice jacking, the device owner won't see what the USB port connects to. So, when you plug in the phone, if someone is checking on the other end, they may be able to move data between your device and theirs.

Another technique that criminals deploy is that while you charge your device, they download critical data through the port you may be using for charging the device. You may be aware that USB ports can be used for transferring data and we sometimes also transfer data between smartphones and laptops using USB cables.

Cybercriminals deploy hacking tools, malware in public charging ports. Banks and police have been warning people against these crimes. Remember that antivirus can provide extra protection but it won’t be useful when it comes to juice jacking, however if cybercriminals try to install malware, then antivirus can block apps. So next time when you travel definitely take your power bank and charger with you.