Technical Tuesday: What is Juice Jacking and How do you stop it.

Are you a person who travels a lot or even a little? If so then please for your own safety keep reading.

Juice Jacking is when you plug your phone into a public charging station using either the cord provided to you or the cord that you brought with you. Either way, the public charging station then installs a small piece of malware on your phone and BAMM you are hacked.

Now, this hacking is not the fault of the company that provided you the charging station (they were just trying to be nice). This hacking is done by a person who is probably miles away and is lurking on their computer playing some indie game and doesn’t want to get an actual job for a living. (Hackers if your reading this… Hacking someone… is not nice!)

This hacking is also not your fault! There is no possible way to know if the charging station has been infected with this malware or not. (If you’re not sure what malware is then please click here) If you already know then please continue reading.

How to stop Juice Jacking?

Stopping Juice Jacking seems like a daunting task as there is no way to know if you have been hacked or if you will be. There are no insignias that allow us to know what is going on in that situation.

So many people are spending hundreds on little USB looking devices that will stop the data connection from a charging station to a phone. But honestly you don’t need to spend the money. There are a few free or relatively cheap ways to stop that data exchange and keep you safe.

• Bring your wall charger with you. Whether you call it a block or a wall charger or a brick… just throw it in your purse along with your cord.

• Always keep a battery pack on you. Many of us have these laying around the house. I have 7 on my bookshelf right now. They are relatively cheap at places like Walmart. They may not give you a full charge but when you are in a desperate situation and need to make a phone call they come in handy.

• (I know I said cheap… Well many were probably thinking 10-15 dollars) But there is on charger that I must recommend and it’s going to cost you 22.00 and that is FuelRod. These chargers are wonderful and in fact I do own one. These chargers can be charged and then switched out for a new one and reused. This is great considering you pay that 22.00 one time! And it’s a great way to stay safe and charged.

• Many phones come with a Power Saving Mode and when traveling in a densely populated area it may be best to switch your Bluetooth off and your Wi-Fi as these are also possible ways to be hacked. I know I sound paranoid but honestly having a cord for your headphones to listen to whatever podcast your obsessed with is not a bad trade when you have the knowledge that your phone with you bank account information is not being like… HI HI HI… I am here come find me other Bluetooth devices!!!!

• Last but certainly not least. Here is a great idea… put the phone away. READ a BOOK! Broaden your horizons. Take a break from the constant noise that is surrounding us every single day and just breathe. Believe me…I may be a blogger and a youtuber… (still growing both) but taking a break and putting away my phone, tablet and also walking away from my beautiful desktop computer… (yes…I may be in love with this desktop) is a good thing!

Anyway, Here are just a few things that you could do and I do hope that you stay safe and if you think of any questions or have any comments.. Leave them below!

As always Happy Computing. 🙂