Why the FBI Says to Avoid Free Phone Charging Stations

The FBI warns against public phone charging stations because of potential malware.

BYOC – Bring Your Own Charger.  FBI Denver tweeted an advisory on public charging.   They say hackers have figured out ways to to use public ports to put malware onto devices.   So have your own charging cord and USB wall block.   Other sites mention using caution when considering charging your phone in a ride share because of data transfer concerns.

“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.” – FBI Denver