Juice Jacking Attack: Can Your Phone Be Hacked Via Malicious Charger?

As cybercriminals become more sophisticated, online scams have reached new levels of complexity and sophistication. Gone are the days of easily identifiable schemes of phishing emails or fake websites; they now come in the form of well-crafted deceptions that even the most tech-savvy could find themselves falling for.

One such ‘sophisticated trickery’ has been claimed to be occurred in Hyderabad where a tech-savvy CEO reportedly had 16 lakh rupees stolen from his bank account after his phone was hacked through a malicious charger.

The elaborate viral message mentions that the money was stolen without any OTP call or online link being sent or opened. Further, it is claimed that cybercrime officers found that the mobile charger of the CEO was changed in the office, where a microchip was installed to copy and hack all the data.

The message is followed by a warning to be cautious when using chargers and USB cords, and to avoid charging devices in unknown or untrusted locations.

Original – LinkedIn

What’s The Truth?

A careful reading of the viral message points out that it is filled with unsubstantiated claims. No specific details are provided regarding the company of which the CEO was robbed, nor is there a date given for the incident. This inconsistency causes us to question the accuracy of the message.

Upon keyword search, we found that there hasn’t been any reported case in Hyderabad. No reputable news sources have reported on this hacking and theft. We could not locate any police statement or press release concerning the CEO being robbed due after his phone was hacked via a malicious charger.

What is Juice Jacking Attack?

Juice jacking is a type of cyber-attack where a hacker steals data or installs malware on a victim’s device by infecting it with malware through public charging points, such as a USB charging port or a charging cable left in a public place.

The way juice jacking works is that the hacker creates charging points that have been modified to steal data or install malware on your device.

When you plug your device into the charging station, the hacker is able to access the data on the device or install malware that can steal sensitive information or allow the hacker to control the device remotely.

It is a relatively new form of cyber-attack, but one that is becoming more common as people increasingly rely on their mobile devices and need to charge them on the go.

How to be Safe?

Best way to be safe from juice jacking attacks is simply not to use public charging points.

If your phone runs out of power, go phoneless until you can charge it safely.

Carrying an extra charger and cable along with a power bank is also a good option.

CONCLUSION

The viral message about a CEO from Hyderabad being robbed after his phone was hacked through a malicious charger is not true. It was a speculative claim. There is no such incident has been reported recently. Although, a phone can be hacked via a malware infected chargers. It is called “juice jacking.”