If you’re flying, road-tripping, or navigating packed airports this holiday season, chances are your phone battery will dip right when you need it most — and you’ll be tempted to charge up wherever you can. But while those free USB charging stations at gates and hotel lobbies look tempting (especially when you’re in a pinch), cybersecurity experts say they’re definitely not safe to use.
To understand the real risks — and what travelers should do instead — I connected with Eric Plam, an internet security expert and chief revenue officer at SIMO. In email comments, he explained exactly how “juice jacking” works and why smarter charging stations don’t automatically mean safer ones. Here are his top tips for protecting your device on the go.
1. Use your own wall charger whenever possible
Public USB ports are essentially “black boxes,” Plam told me. You can’t see what’s happening behind the scenes. A standard wall outlet is far safer, and using your own charging brick removes the risk of hidden data lines.
2. Stick to your own cable — and never borrow a random one
A compromised cable can do as much damage as a compromised port. “Don’t borrow cables from strangers or grab whatever is lying around,” Plam said; rather use only your own cable. One bad cable is all it takes.
3. If you must use a USB port, add a data blocker
A small, cheap data-blocking adapter can prevent your phone from transferring anything except power, so buy one and carry it with you at all times. Plam called it the best “in-a-pinch” solution if an outlet isn’t available.
4. Avoid public Wi-Fi unless you’re using a VPN
Juice jacking is just one threat. Fake airport and hotel Wi-Fi networks are far more common — and far more effective at harvesting passwords. So make sure you use a VPN if you’re going on public Wi-Fi. “Travelers underestimate how easy it is to create a convincing fake network,” Plam told me.
5. Be wary of QR codes and unexpected Bluetooth prompts
Malicious QR codes can redirect you to phishing sites. And rogue Bluetooth pairing requests can give attackers a free pass into your device. If something feels off, it may very well be — so skip it.
6. Keep your phone updated and enable multi-factor authentication
Plam said simple hygiene goes a long way. Updates patch vulnerabilities, and multifactor authentication protects your accounts even if someone gains partial access to your device.
7. Consider a portable hotspot that doubles as a power bank
“This is the setup I use myself,” Plam said. He travels with a compact wall charger, one trusted cable, and a hotspot/power bank so he doesn’t need to rely on public USB ports or public Wi-Fi at all.
8. Don’t leave your device unattended while charging
Desk USB ports, smart TVs, and other “smart” appliances can carry risks too. Plug into your own charger and keep your phone in sight.