The FBI is cautioning consumers against using public phone charging stations due to the risk of exposing their devices to malicious software. Public USB stations commonly found in places like malls and airports are being exploited by malicious actors to distribute malware and monitoring software. The FBI’s Denver branch highlighted this concern in a recent tweet, though without specific examples. The agency advised people to use their personal charger and USB cord in an electrical outlet instead. Security experts have long warned about the dangers of using public charging stations, coining the term “juice jacking” in 2011 to describe this threat. When a compromised power strip or charger is used, the connected device becomes infected, potentially compromising all stored data. Even the cord used for charging can transfer data between devices, such as when connecting an iPhone to a computer. If a charging port is compromised, hackers could gain access to various sensitive information like emails, texts, photos, and contacts. The FBI regularly issues reminders to the public about staying vigilant, especially while traveling. The Federal Communications Commission also updated a blog post to highlight the risks of corrupted charging ports, which can result in device lockouts or the extraction of personal data and passwords. Reports have even emerged of criminals leaving infected cables at charging stations or distributing them as promotional gifts.