Traveling can be a stressful time, especially if you are flying with kids and/or have to make a connection. If you’re stuck in the airport for a long period of time, you might run into issues where you need to charge your smartphone, laptop or other electronic device. But the TSA has just announced a warning for people that are looking to charge their phones in the airport.
TSA warns against “juice jacking”
The TSA put out a warning recently against “juice jacking”. From their Facebook post:
“Hackers can install malware at USB ports (we’ve been told that’s called “juice/port jacking”). So, when you’re at an airport do not plug your phone directly into a USB port. Bring your TSA-compliant power brick or battery pack and plug in there.”
The FCC has 4 related suggestions for travelers going through the airport
- Use AC power outlets that can help you avoid any potential risks – be sure to pack AC, car chargers, and your own USB cables with you when traveling.
- Carry an external battery.
- Consider carrying a charging-only cable, which prevents data from sending or receiving while charging, from a trusted supplier.
- If you plug your device into a USB port and a prompt appears asking you to select “share data” or “trust this computer” or “charge only,” always select “charge only.”
(H/T: The Sun)
“Can I charge my phone from your laptop?”
This reminds me of the story that PWaC writer Ian had a few years ago, when someone came up to him in an airport and asked if he could charge his phone off Ian’s laptop. Ian, being cognizant of the potential risks, declined (although in this particular case I imagine there wasn’t anything nefarious going on). It is a small risk, and one you might be willing to accept, but it’s at least something that you should be aware of.
The Bottom Line
It’s important to remember that things in the airport like USB ports and public wifi are not guaranteed to be safe and secure. So it makes sense to take precautions before taking advantage of them. You can always charge your phone from a power outlet, or you can buy a one-way / data blocking USB adapter. Personally, I generally use AC power to charge my devices at the airport if needed, and I am not super concerned about using public wifi, though I generally avoid doing anything sensitive while on public wifi (at the airport or anywhere else).
Will this TSA warning keep you from using airport chargers? Leave your thoughts in the comments below
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at
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