Juice jacking

Source-This post on Juice jacking is based on the article “Juice jacking: RBI issues warning against charging mobile phones using public ports” published in “The Hindu Businessline” on 28th February 2024.

Why in the News?

Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a warning to mobile phone users regarding the risk of juice jacking.

What is Juice jacking?

1. Term coined– The term “juice jacking” was first coined in 2011 by investigative journalist Brian Krebs.

2. About– It is a form of cyberattack where hackers manipulate public USB charging ports to steal data from connected devices by infecting them with malware or altering hardware.

3. Hackers target– Hackers utilize this attack to steal users’ passwords, credit card details, addresses, and other sensitive data stored on the targeted device.

4. Common places of incidents– This form of attack has become increasingly concerning, with reported incidents occurring in various public spaces including airports, hotels, and shopping centers.

5. RBI directive– RBI stressed the need to safeguard personal and financial data when using mobile devices.

How to prevent from such cyber attacks?

1. Mobile phone users should utilize their personal chargers and refrain from connecting their devices to public USB ports.

2. Additionally, employing a virtual private network (VPN) and ensuring devices are equipped with the latest security updates can aid in reducing the vulnerability to cyberattacks.

UPSC Syllabus- Science & Technology (Cybersecurity)