FBI warns consumers not to use public phone charging stations

Forums › Travel (planes, train, cruise) › FBI warns consumers not to use public phone charging stations

kingdragonfly

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#304201 13-Apr-2023 11:37

From the FBI

"Avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers.

Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices.

Carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead."

I found this article about "USB charge-only" / "USB Data Blocker" cables. I'm guessing this will work with most phones.

For iPhone, but same technique may work. Or this product

Dignited: How to tell a USB charge-only cable from a USB data cable

Batman

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#3063187 13-Apr-2023 12:08

What next, turn off Bluetooth in your cars?

networkn

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#3063206 13-Apr-2023 12:19

If you are connected, you are exposed to risk.

Handsomedan

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#3063208 13-Apr-2023 12:26

It's a bit like the old "don't carry a wallet with contactless-capable cards in it in your pocket or they'll get cloned" thing...

It is what it is.

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Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...

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ezbee

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#3063218 13-Apr-2023 12:52

Is the answer a power only charge cable?
Though it may mean you can't use certain fast charging modes, no data lines being available?
Ideally a cable with some protections against overvoltage spikes etc would be nice, if they exist.
Given the variability of the quality of what might be on the other end.

mikeb4 suggested this before me while I was editing this message.
Or as simple as a Power-Bank which is worth travelling with for many reasons.

Charge power bank , then later top up phone.

Watching 'BigClive' you would hope 'Free Charging' vendor has not bought stuff from Poundland, Ebay, Aliexpress to save money.

Given that your phone can be your wallet, airline ticket, lifeline etc.

MikeB4

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#3063221 13-Apr-2023 12:56

I carry a messenger bag in which besides the usual bits and pieces I carry a power bank. Seldom need it though as the iPhone has a good battery life.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

djtOtago

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#3063229 13-Apr-2023 13:24

This has been a known risk for over 10 years. Has the FBI only just worked this out?
Next, they will be warning against plugging in unknown USB thumb drives to your computer.

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plas

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#3063231 13-Apr-2023 13:29

This is nothing new when travelling never trust random USB ports.

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2011/08/beware-of-juice-jacking/

richms

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#3063261 13-Apr-2023 15:26

power only cables will block QC negotiation, not that I have ever seen a decent public charger that was any more than a 5v 2.4A USB A piece of junk.

Richard rich.ms

kingdragonfly

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#3063279 13-Apr-2023 16:21

I just discovered this.

Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand: Can I take a power bank on a plane?

Yes, you can have a power bank in your carry-on luggage.

Power banks must not go in check-in luggage under any circumstances, including earbuds and hearing aid charging pods [case] which are a type of power bank.

Power banks are managed as if they were spare batteries."

Gordy7

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#3063281 13-Apr-2023 16:33

https://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/p/startech.com-secure-charging-usb-data-blocker-adapter-%E2%80%93-male-to-female-usb-a-charge-only-adapter-%E2%80%93-no-data-chargepower-only-adapter-for-phonetablet-%E2%80%93-data-blocking-usb-protector-adapter-usbschaamf/M11860682.html

Gordy

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kingdragonfly

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#3063300 13-Apr-2023 17:45

Off subject, speaking of "picking up a random USB drive and plugging it into your computer"

Techcrunch 2015: This USB Drive Can Nuke A Compute

...Put simply, the bits inside the USB drive draws and stores a ton of power. When a certain level is hit, it returns the power to the source, which is either a dedicated USB controller or the CPU itself.

The amount of power returned overloads the circuits, rendering it useless. Since a lot of USB controllers are built directly into the main processor… bye bye computer.
...

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Aaron2222

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#3063305 13-Apr-2023 18:01

kingdragonfly: Off subject, speaking of "picking up a random USB drive and plugging it into your computer"

Techcrunch 2015: This USB Drive Can Nuke A Compute

...Put simply, the bits inside the USB drive draws and stores a ton of power. When a certain level is hit, it returns the power to the source, which is either a dedicated USB controller or the CPU itself.

The amount of power returned overloads the circuits, rendering it useless. Since a lot of USB controllers are built directly into the main processor… bye bye computer.
...

Or worse: Ecuadorian TV presenter wounded by bomb disguised as USB stick

ezbee

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#3063327 13-Apr-2023 19:50

Yech....! Literally Exploding Thumb Drives.

At least uSD cards are going to be difficult to tamper with ?

As for the warning being unnecessary.
I suppose the charging stations are there as they do attract patrons, so there are people not so aware.

Its a thing that normies may not consider.

openmedia

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#3063471 14-Apr-2023 07:38

richms:

power only cables will block QC negotiation, not that I have ever seen a decent public charger that was any more than a 5v 2.4A USB A piece of junk.

Most I've seen in places like airport lounges are lucky to provide 5V 1A

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

kingdragonfly

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#3063560 14-Apr-2023 09:22

It seems like best value for money is getting a power bank. They seem to start at $20 (to $170 for one from Apple)

Power banks are a minor fire hazard. You are required to carry it on board, which would naturally the way most people would do anyhow. You can't pack any in you checked in luggage.

I'd suggest only charging a powerbank when you can keep an eye on it, and not charging it on a soft furniture, like a sofa.