FBI cautions against using public phone chargers due to security risks

The FBI has warned that public USB ports can be used by hackers to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices, a cybercrime known as "juice jacking." The agency advises carrying your own charger and USB cord and using an electrical outlet to power up your device instead. Cybersecurity experts recommend adopting newer USB technology or purchasing charging-only cables, which don't allow data extraction, and using wireless chargers. Signs of a compromised device include a loss of battery life, a slowdown in operations, overheating, settings being altered without input, and unusually high data usage.