Juice Jacking Attack: Types and Prevention Techniques

Are you someone who is a frequent traveler? If yes, then you must have faced the device discharge issue as well. This issue becomes even worse when the only communication device you have goes off. In cases when you are traveling solo and you completely rely on the internet for tracking the locations you will be visiting, you are left with no option. The only option you have is to look for public charging stations. But, your data is at risk as hackers can hack your device using these charging points. To know more about this, watch our YouTube Video “How Hackers Steal Personal Details Using a Charging Station | Juice Jacking”.

What is Juice Jacking?

It is a kind of cyber attack wherein hackers use public charging stations to enter into the personal space of a person. This is done by using a USB as a medium of transferring the malware from the source to the intended device. Hackers use USB as only 2 points of the cable are sufficient to transfer the data from the source to the destination. And charging stations are something that people doubt the least. 

Types of Juice Jacking:

Three types of Juice Jacking attacks are used by the hackers. These are mentioned below:

• Data Theft:

  It is the most common type of juice-jacking attack. In this attack, the users are not even aware that their data has been stolen from their devices without their knowledge. The data theft depends on the duration of the USB connection of the device with the port. For example, if you will be using the point for a longer duration, your entire phone will be cleared i.e. entire data will be stolen by the hacker.

• Malware Attack:

  Another kind of attack is using malware and getting it installed on your device. Hackers use malware as it can manipulate your device and act as a spy. It can lock you out of your device and meanwhile will steal all the data from the device and will transfer it to the hacker.

• Multi-Device Attack:

  It happens when users are using the same cable they used at the charging station to charge other devices as well. As this USB is already damaged and infected with the virus it will harm all the devices that will be charged using this cable.

Follow us at Lloyd Institute of Forensic Science to learn more about such topics.

How to Prevent Juice Jacking?

Just knowing about this attack is not sufficient hence we need to protect our data also from this theft. For this users can follow the below mentioned steps and thus can save their data from hackers.

• While using charging stations, make sure you use only AC power outlets,
• Use “Charge-only” cables,
• Carry spare batteries for your device,
• Use data blockers.

Follow these steps and save your data from unintended access. As cyber crimes are increasing daily you need to be updated with these advancements so that you can protect your personal details from hackers.