UPSC - NEW TERM - JUICE JACKING

JUICE JACKING

Juice jacking is a type of cyber attack involving a charging port that doubles as a data connection, typically over USB. This often involves either installing malware or surreptitiously copying sensitive data from a smart phone, tablet, or other computer device.

Brain Krebs was the first to report on this attack and coined the term "juice jacking". After seeing the informational cell phone charging kiosk set up in the Wall of Sheep at Defcon 19 in August 2011, he wrote the first article on his security journalism site Krebs on Security. 

What is Juice Jacking? 

Intelligent hackers have reportedly developed a harmless looking and yet sophisticated USB port-like gadget that can be attached to the charging stations.

Once a victim plugs his/her phone, the device can bypass the phone security to inject malware in it and steal entire contents of the phone including contact details, emails, messages, photos, private videos, and sensitive financial credentials. 

Here's how to protect the phone against Juice Jacking!

• Always plug your phone to charging station with two-pin electrical AC outlet only
• Never ever plug your phone to a charging station via USB port
• Best way to avoid Juice Jacking is to carry your own power banks