Using a free airport phone charger could drain your bank account

They’re a lifesaver for travellers, but authorities are warning about the dangers of using those free phone charging stations at the airport.

A convenient charge can come with a high cost.

Public charging stations and USB ports can be a lifesaver when your phone’s battery power is dwindling, but the threat of “juice jacking” should make people think twice before using random chargers.

Hackers are infecting ports with malware that, when phone owners plug in for a complimentary charge, infect their phones – and possibly steal their savings, the New York Post reported.

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“A free charge could end up draining your bank account,” Los Angeles deputy district attorney Luke Sisak says in a video posted by his office.

Authorities in the United States are warning travellers to be aware of the danger ahead of the holiday season.

Hackers are infecting airport charging ports with malware, authorities warn.

“Criminals load malware onto charging stations or tables they leave at the kiosk.

“Once the unsuspecting user plugs in, their phone or electronic device becomes infected.”

Steve Beaty, cybersecurity expert at Metropolitan State University of Denver, told New York broadcaster WKBW how the hack worked.

“It’s a combination of juicing up our phones and getting hijacked at the same time,” he said, saying it was similar to what happened when hackers put card skimmers into petrol pumps or ATMs.

The practice is known as ‘juice jacking’.

“Skimming devices are the same type of thing. They have a tiny, little computer in there reading your (magnetic stripe), reading you punching things in,” he said.

Authorities have been warning of juice jacking since 2011.

Malware can lock your device or send out passwords, addresses or a full backup of your phone to the hacker within minutes. To avoid being a fraud victim, authorities recommend using a power outlet and your own charger – or getting a portable one. Apps like SyncStop also help protect your data from accidental syncing and malware.

Travellers can protect themselves by using a power outlet and their own charger.

Malware can feel like it’s everywhere these days – even government and hospital systems are vulnerable, and “exploit kits” have the ability to infect computers at a rapid rate.

Recently, a batch of Android apps reportedly infected thousands of users with a “Joker” bug that signed them up for subscription-based services without their knowledge.

By being cautious about what you download, click on and where and how you charge your phone, though, you can potentially avoid accidentally compromising your tech.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission