The phrase "any port in a storm" used to mean "any place/person to find comfort," usually on a more intimate level. Well, nowadays, with everyone having "Low Battery Anxiety" or "Nomophobia," the term of "any port in a storm" can mean any USB PORT to a lot of people. Just like the previous way, you should double-check before sticking it in (I'm talking about your power charging cable).

The FBI warned about the dangers of using Free Charging Stations to power their phones and mobile devices. The term is called "Juice Jacking," and it's a way that scammers have found to put malware onto unsuspecting people's phones while using free charging stations (like at the mall and airport).

"Bad Actors have figured out ways to use Public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices" – FBI Denver Twitter.

Right now, there are no real specific cases that lead to the recent warning via tweet, but "Juice Jacking" has been around since 2021. The tweet appears to be a cautious reminder since charging stations are becoming more common, and criminals are becoming more crafty.

HOW CAN YOU AVOID JUICE JACKING?

The FBI offers some tips to avoid public chargers, but the main thing is to carry your own charging cable and plug it in. Use only wall outlets, and if possible, wait until you are in your own house or car before charging.

Get our free mobile app

LOOK: The biggest scams today and how you can protect yourself from them

Using data from the BBB Scam Tracker Annual Risk Report, Stacker identified the most common and costly types of scams in 2022.

Expert Tips for Avoiding Online Shopping Scams

In order to avoid a scammer getting the better of you, check out the following red flags to look out for as well as preventative measures to take from Dr. Skiba, AKA Dr. Fraud himself:

Report a typo or correction

Got a news tip? Email us here.