Why you should use only your own phone charger in public spaces

Various gadgets have become an integral part of many people's daily lives, and we all know the frustration of seeing the dreaded low battery symbol while walking or traveling.

However, don't be so quick to borrow a charger from strangers. Henry Purchase, a tech expert and founder of SEOSpace, advises against it, warning that it could make your data vulnurable to hackers, the Express writes.

"Chargers may look perfectly innocent, but they can wreak havoc on your phone or laptop," he said, adding that hackers load these cables with malware in a scam called ‘juice jacking.'

"If you plug one of these cables into a device, whether it’s through a laptop, USB charging station, or even public outlets, the malware can silently infect your phone, giving the cybercriminals full access to your data," said Purchase.

Using this technique, fraudsters install viruses that can lock phones, obtain passwords, and record keystrokes.

Nowadays, it's common to see charging ports in restaurants and bars, which can be tempting if your battery is running low. Still, using them can put you at risk for data breaches, as fraudsters often intentionally leave their fake cables in these public spaces.

Henry recommends avoiding these charging stations entirely, saying, "Instead, always opt for a good old-fashioned electrical outlet, or carry your own charging cables."

How to recognize poor quality charger

• Slowdown
• Overheating
• Battery life decreases faster than usual
• Unusually high data usage
• Changes to the settings

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest developments.