Travelers have been told to be careful when plugging their smartphones and laptops into USB chargers.
Last Thursday, the official Twitter account of the FBI in Denver posted a warning:
“Avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels and shopping centers. Malicious attackers have found ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and surveillance software into devices. Carry your device and USB cord, and use a power outlet instead.”
Given how common it is to see people huddling around airport plugs, frantically charging their devices before embarking on long flights, the FBI’s warning has captured much of the media’s imagination. It is not surprising that the
But here my question is…
Has anyone had their smartphone “juicejacked” in the real world?
Yes, I can imagine an attack is possible in theory. If you happen to be in the company of a bunch of penetration testers, chances are someone will try to trick you into plugging into a malicious USB port they set up…
…but in public? At the airport or shopping center?
Has the FBI (which kicked off this latest media round on juicejacking) actually seen someone hacked maliciously via a USB charger?
Dear readers, have you ever fallen victim to such an attack? If so, I would love to hear from you. Please leave a message in the comments.
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Oh, by the way, scary stories about Juice Jack are nothing new. Here, cybercrime author Geoff White and I discuss whether it’s really as big an issue as some people think…
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