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Rossen Reports: Hackers taking advantage of public phone chargers

Rossen Reports: Hackers taking advantage of public phone chargers
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Rossen Reports: Hackers taking advantage of public phone chargers
Law enforcement officials are issuing a new warning about public phone charging stations that many people use at the airport. Hackers have figured out a way to hide malware that can be used to extract information from phones connected to those chargers, experts say. It鈥檚 called 鈥渏uice jacking,鈥� which is accomplished by installing a skimming device inside the USB ports at public charging stations. Bryan Seely, an expert hacker who uses his skills for good, said he can access banking apps, contact, emails and text messages in a matter of minutes through 鈥渏uice jacking.鈥� 鈥淎nd with all this it wouldn鈥檛 take me long to scam one of your contacts by spoofing your number, calling as you and getting even more information about you,鈥� he said. 鈥淪teal your identity. Empty your accounts.鈥� The spyware can also allow hackers to track victims even after they unplug from a public charger. This type of malware can be installed quickly and won鈥檛 seem suspicious to the owner of the phone. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the danger,鈥� Seely said. 鈥淣ever, ever, ever use public chargers.鈥� If you're in a pinch and need a charge, there鈥檚 a device you can buy for under $10 called a 鈥渄ata blocker鈥� that protects you at public ports.

Law enforcement officials are issuing a new warning about public phone charging stations that many people use at the airport.

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Hackers have figured out a way to hide malware that can be used to extract information from phones connected to those chargers, experts say.

It鈥檚 called 鈥渏uice jacking,鈥� which is accomplished by installing a skimming device inside the USB ports at public charging stations.

Bryan Seely, an expert hacker who uses his skills for good, said he can access banking apps, contact, emails and text messages in a matter of minutes through 鈥渏uice jacking.鈥�

鈥淎nd with all this it wouldn鈥檛 take me long to scam one of your contacts by spoofing your number, calling as you and getting even more information about you,鈥� he said. 鈥淪teal your identity. Empty your accounts.鈥�

The spyware can also allow hackers to track victims even after they unplug from a public charger.

This type of malware can be installed quickly and won鈥檛 seem suspicious to the owner of the phone.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 the danger,鈥� Seely said. 鈥淣ever, ever, ever use public chargers.鈥�

If you're in a pinch and need a charge, there鈥檚 a you can buy for under $10 called a 鈥渄ata blocker鈥� that protects you at public ports.