Khaberni - The UAE Cybersecurity Council warned about the increasing risks associated with using unreliable public charging ports, confirming that 79% of travelers unknowingly expose their personal data to risk when charging their devices from unsafe ports in public areas.
The council explained that some public charging ports might be equipped with malware or hidden systems capable of accessing personal data through what is known as "juice jacking attacks", through media or picture transfer protocols that are automatically activated when devices are connected.
The Cybersecurity Council confirmed that neglecting protective measures and using unsafe charging ports can lead to data and password theft or malicious software being installed on phones without the user's knowledge.
It added that 68% of companies have been subjected to attacks originating from unreliable charging ports, resulting in breaches of their data and digital infrastructure.
The council listed several warning signs that might indicate devices are subject to these types of attacks, including rapid battery drain, slow application performance, and frequent system crashes, in addition to unfamiliar icons or messages appearing on the device.
The Cybersecurity Council offered a set of preventive guidelines on this matter, notably the importance of carrying a personal charger during travel, avoiding the use of public charging ports as much as possible, and rejecting any data transfer requests during charging.
The council recommended enabling two-factor verification and using biometric entry technologies such as fingerprints or facial recognition, and reviewing the permissions requested by applications, in addition to ensuring that no unnecessary permissions are granted to access photos, messages, or contacts.
The council emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of applications installed on devices, noting that some apps might contain malicious software that allows hackers to steal personal data or spy on users and could extend risks to financial fraud and stealing data from bank cards and electronic accounts.
The Cybersecurity Council had launched a weekly awareness campaign as part of the Cyber Pulse initiative, aimed at enhancing community awareness of safe practices in the digital space and providing guidance on how to confront various cybersecurity threats.
