The FBI issues a public warning against the use of charging stations because of the threat they pose to the data safety and privacy of their users. According to the report, cyber attackers use USB charging kiosks in airports and malls to spread harmful software to any device connected to them. This is because USB devices can perform commands or run programs when they are plugged into a computer. If a USB kiosk is infected with harmful software, any device that is plugged into it could potentially be infected as well. This attack, known as ‘juice jacking’, compromises the users’ text messages, files, banking information, and passwords. This type of attack is possible because the same cables used for charging are also capable of transferring data from one device to another. While the warning was recent, juice jacking has been an issue since 2011, the same year the said terminology was introduced.

Following this threat, the agency advised the public to avoid using public charging stations as much as possible. They further recommend that people bring their own chargers and cables when traveling. Another sound and popular option is for them to bring portable power banks. Updating the security features of mobile devices is a sound way to counter juice jacking as well.