Talking on Fox News Channel, Kurt "The CyberGuy" Knutsson described ways that people can protect themselves from hackers, beginning by explaining the danger of plugging your smartphone directly into a USB charging port (without a charging block) in airports or public places.
"It's called juice jacking," he said. "Criminals tamper with … USB charging ports that are located throughout the [airport] terminal … especially in the gate areas."
The hacking process involves installing malware on an individual's phone while it's charging, allowing sensitive data to be copied then transferred.
"You've got no idea – you just think, 'Hey, I'm getting a charge before I get on the plane.' [But] once they've got that malware installed, those crooks go and bring you about a whole bunch of misery."
That misery, he described, follows hackers' access to "a jackpot of your passwords, your banking info, credit card numbers."
Knuttsson's advice? "Rule of thumb: I say never, ever, ever plug in your USB port of your phone into any public charging area. Instead, just bring the little electric part [a USB charger block] – plug that into an outlet and then you're in good shape."
Knuttson also warned about unsolicited texts that hackers are sending alleging unpaid tolls and other things that usually urge recipients to quickly obey the texts.
"When you get a message like that – whether it's in the mail, or whether it comes by text, or by email – don't interact with it," he warns. "Go to the website you know to be the authoritative, official one; log onto your account; and [ask] 'Okay, do I owe a bill or not?' If it says zero, that's a scam."
Related article from The CyberGuy:
TSA warns of airport 'juice jacking' charging threat
