Airport scam warning over free USB phone chargers that are 'privacy hazard'
dailyrecord.co.ukTravellers are being warned to avoid USB charging points in airports over scamming risks.These days, smartphones are a crucial tool when it comes to travelling.
Long gone are the days of printing out tickets and boarding passes, now easily accessible through the mobile device.With the risk of running out of juice, many travel hubs now offer free mobile phone charging at dedicated stations.
But the USA's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has raised an alert as fraudsters can use the tech to get access personal phones.Sounding the alarm on Twitter, the FBI warned: "Avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers.
Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices."Carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead."According to the American security service, USB charging ports can be implemented with malware that can cause havoc, giving cyber criminals the ability to access personal information, from emails to credit card numbers.
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