A well-known flying personality has warned viewers of a common scam that could put tourists and their devices at risk during an airport layover.
Whilst waiting for an upcoming flights, many travellers take the opportunity to charge up devices such as their smartphone.
However, Megan, who shares travel advice based on past experiences via her YouTube channel Portable Professional, suggested tourists should think twice before charging their phones via a public USB port.
She advised: “Using an airport USB to charge your devices can expose you to a scam called ‘juice jacking’. This happens when public USB ports are manipulated to steal data from your devices that are connected to them.
“Using an adapter allows you to safely connect to outlets. Unlike USB ports, AC outlets are purely for power and they don’t transfer data, ensuring there is no risk to your personal information while it’s charging.”
Whilst not all tourists will be able to use a foreign plug, many airports allow users to plug their phones directly into a USB port in order to charge the battery.
However, since these plugs are capable of transmitting data as well as power, it is possible for scammers to manipulate them to gain information from the device.
The process, known as juice jacking, could also be used to send viruses, such as malware, to phones, putting them at risk long after the battery is full.
To avoid the dangers of juice jacking, Megan suggested that tourists should always keep a travel adapter handy, with some of the more expensive ones capable of being used in sockets around the world.
She explained: “Navigating airport layovers with multiple devices can be tricky, and a big mistake that travellers make is not having a plan to keep all of their devices charged.
“Regardless of the country they happen to be travelling in, a powerful and affordable international plug adapter like the one I have here from Tessan, is a game-changer for many reasons. It’s compatible with over 200 country outlets and it automatically adjusts voltage to prevent damage to your devices.”