Juice jacking attacks can be difficult to detect until months or even years later. “If this happens to you, it can take a really long time for you to even notice,” says Warmenhoven, because the malware is stealthy, quietly sending data to a central place, which in turn sells it. By the time the victim’s data reaches the end criminal, the vacation is long over. “If your phone starts working unusually slowly or it feels hotter than usual, chances are you may have picked up malware,” he says.
The very best way to protect yourself from juice jacking is prevention, says Warmenhoven. Here are his tips:Power banks are safe and convenient. “Using a portable charger means you never have to use a public USB port,” says Warmenhoven.USB data blockers are small, inexpensive devices that look like thumb drives but have an open USB port on the back end. They plug directly into USB ports, acting as a shield between the port and the device.
“In the security industry, it’s long been known as a ‘USB condom’ but because it has negative connotations, it’s now being called a data blocker,” says Warmenhoven. “It’s actually quite simple. It just cuts two or three wires in the middle of a USB connection, that’s it.” As a result, electricity can be transferred to your device, but not malware.Data blockers are available on Amazon.com as well as in big box stores like Walmart and Staples for as little as $3 apiece.
Instead, invest in a “dumb” cable that can only transfer electricity, not data. “If you’re smart when you travel, I’d say put one of these charging-only cables in the front pocket of your backpack. And only use that while you’re traveling,” advises Warmenhoven, who notes that IKEA and many other vendors sell charging-only cables.Juice jacking attacks only happen when you’re connected to a USB charging port, not an electricity-only power socket.
With these tips, says Warmenhoven, travelers can keep their devices charged without putting their personal data at risk.