Charging stations for mobile devices have become increasingly common in public places such as airports and conference centers. These amenities feature power cords designed to fit a variety of mobile devices to offer users a convenient way to charge smart phones.
However, security expert Brian Krebs writes on his blog that these towers are prime targets for hackers to attach devices that can steal the data on your phone and upload malware to it.
While many people find it tempting to use a charging station, they also don’t realize that when their phone is connected to a power station through a USB port, the phone will automatically conduct a USB transfer, sometimes even when that feature is manually disabled. In transferring files and data to an unknown device, the user opens himself up to attacks.
Krebs writes that the safest way to avoid unintentionally giving away your personal information is to use a power cord and plug your phone directly into an electrical outlet. If a charging kiosk is your only option, you should power down the phone before charging it.
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