The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a warning to consumers urging them to avoid using public charging stations that include USB connections. These are positions that are usually placed in airports, train stations and shopping centers, although the FBI also warns against using USB sockets in hotel rooms.
The reason for this, according to the publication, is that hackers managed to find ways to install malicious spyware through the public USB connection, and thus connecting the device to it exposes it to dangers. Even on iPhone devices, where the data transfer connection is locked by default, it is opened while the device is being used – so using the iPhone while it is charging exposes it to the same dangers.
The FBI instead recommends going on the road with a USB charger and cable in the bag, which can be plugged directly into the power outlet. This is a safer way to charge the device that does not expose it to dangers. By the way, it also seems more likely that it will be possible to locate standard power outlets instead of relying on the existence of USB connections for charging.
According to the FBI, the timing of the publication of the warning was determined only as a reminder to consumers, and not following any incident that resulted in the alert being raised. However, it is worth noting that during the last few days, the USA is dealing with a massive leak of sensitive security information concerning the country’s foreign relations and the war taking place in Ukraine, when as of this moment it is still unclear how the information made its way to the network.