Got my bank account drained after using a public USB port at Denver airport

I was waiting for a layover at DEN last month and plugged my phone into one of those public charging stations by gate B42. Next thing I know, I get a fraud alert at 3am for $450 in gift card purchases. The bank says it was juice jacking - someone had modified the port to steal data. Now I only carry my own power bank and never plug into random USB ports anywhere. Has anyone else had this happen at an airport or hotel lobby?

2 comments

2 Comments

linda_mason829d ago

My husband actually caught one of those modified ports at Chicago Midway a few years back, lucky he noticed before plugging in. I wrap a piece of electrical tape over the data pins on any USB cable I travel with now, just blocks the data transfer but still lets it charge.

parker_foster538d ago

Honestly feels like one of those things that sounds scarier than it really is. Unless you're a high profile target, odds are some random airport USB port isn't out to get your data. Tape works fine if it makes you feel safer, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it.