Also: How to use public Wi-Fi safely: 5 tips you need to know A recent tweet from Denver FBI advises travelers, commuters, and civilians alike to avoid using free charging stations because of juice jacking. That is, with a few illegal modifications, criminals can introduce malware and surveillance software to steal your phone data as soon as you connect your device to an open port. The number one solution to the problem is to not charge your devices through a public outlet. But, in times of need, here are alternative ways to get your battery fixed without risking your personal information. Also: The best MagSafe battery packs we’ve tested The first option is a portable battery bank. By serving as the middleman, an external battery can be topped up without the risk of exposing any of your data and security, and then relay that energy to your smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc. The second option is to charge with a USB data blocker. Like the portable battery, a USB adapter serves as a middleman between your personal device and the potentially malicious outlet. It achieves such security by doing away with the data wires traditionally found on USB cables. With the accessory attached to your charging cable, it will physically block out any data transfer between the outlet and your device. Also: Is your iPhone charging slower? Turn off this default setting now Most data blockers, like the one we recommend above, support adaptive charging, meaning you won’t compromise on charging speed by using one. The most important thing to remember is to not plug your device directly into public outlets that you’re wary about.
