What is Juice jacking?

Juice jacking is a cyberattack technique in which cybercriminals exploit public charging stations, such as those found in airports, hotels, and other public places, to steal data from or infect mobile devices. The attack involves using a compromised charging station or a specially designed malicious USB charging cable to transfer malware or gain unauthorized access to a connected device.

Here's how juice jacking works:

• Malicious Charging Stations: Cybercriminals may set up charging stations that appear to be legitimate but are rigged to infect connected devices with malware. These stations may look like standard charging kiosks or USB power outlets.

• Malicious USB Cables: Another approach is to use specially crafted USB cables that have additional components designed to compromise the connected device. These cables may have hidden hardware or software that can initiate data theft or other malicious activities.

• Data Theft and Malware: Once a device is connected to a compromised charging station or cable, cybercriminals can potentially access sensitive data, install malicious software, or even take control of the device remotely.

To protect yourself from juice jacking and similar threats, consider the following precautions:

• Avoid Untrusted Charging Stations: Stick to using charging stations provided by reputable sources, such as your own chargers or those provided by well-known businesses.

• Use AC Power Outlets: Whenever possible, use AC power outlets instead of USB ports for charging. AC power outlets are less susceptible to data transfer compared to USB connections.

• Carry Your Own Charging Cable: To minimize the risk of using a compromised cable, carry your own charging cable and adapter.

• Use Power-Only USB Adapters: Some USB adapters are designed to only allow power flow and not data transfer. Consider using these adapters when charging from public USB ports.

• Consider Portable Power Banks: Portable power banks or battery packs can be a safer alternative for charging on the go, as they don't require connecting to public charging stations.

• Disable Data Transfer: Most smartphones and devices allow you to disable data transfer when connected via USB. Enable this setting to prevent unauthorized data access.

How to check Data transfer is disabled

Android:

• Go to settings

• Go to developer options

        If developer options not showing then

• Go to About phone

• Go to software information

• tap 7 times the build number (After the first few taps, you should see the steps counting down until you unlock the developer options)

• Go back to settings

• Go to Developer options

• Scroll down to USB debugging

• Toggle to turn on/off USB transfer

iPhone/iOS

• Go to settings

• Scroll down the menu and tap Face ID & Passcode (Touch ID and Passcode)

• Scroll down to “Allow Access When Locked” section

• Go to Accessories (or USB Accessories) toggle towards left to disable

It's important to stay vigilant and cautious when using public charging stations to protect your devices and data from potential threats like juice jacking.