KANSAS CITY —The Federal Bureau of Investigation is alerting the public about using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers. 

The FBI office in Denver reported, "Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices. Carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead"

The Federal Communications Commission <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/how-protect-yourself-online">has warned </a>about the cyber-theft tactic since 2021 and offered tips to avoid being the victim of such a crime:<br>

Public WiFi networks are another way that cyber criminals target travelers.&nbsp; To learn more about mobile phone and online security, check out the FCC consumer guide:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/how-protect-yourself-online">Wireless Connections and Bluetooth Security Tips</a>.

<p>KANSAS CITY —The Federal Bureau of Investigation is alerting the public about using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers. </p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers. Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices. Carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead. <a href="https://t.co/9T62SYen9T">pic.twitter.com/9T62SYen9T</a></p>&mdash; FBI Denver (@FBIDenver) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDenver/status/1643947117650538498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>The FBI office in Denver reported, "Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices. Carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead"</p><p>The Federal Communications Commission <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/how-protect-yourself-online">has warned </a>about the cyber-theft tactic since 2021 and offered tips to avoid being the victim of such a crime:<br></p><ul>
                        <li>Bring your own charger for an electrical outlet, a car charger, and your own USB cables when traveling.</li><li>Carry a portable charger or external battery.</li><li>Consider carrying a charging-only cable, which prevents data from sending or receiving while charging, from a trusted supplier.</li>
                    </ul><p>Public WiFi networks are another way that cyber criminals target travelers.&nbsp; To learn more about mobile phone and online security, check out the FCC consumer guide:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/how-protect-yourself-online">Wireless Connections and Bluetooth Security Tips</a>.</p>

FBI warns of cyber threat from public USB charging stations