79% of travelers are vulnerable to data theft and cyber attacks originating from unreliable charging ports
Abu Dhabi, November 23, 2017 – The UAE Government Cyber Security Council warned of the increasing risks associated with the use of untrusted public charging ports, stressing that 79% of travelers expose their personal data to danger without their knowledge when charging their devices from unsafe ports in public places.
The Council explained that some public charging ports may be equipped with malicious software or hidden systems capable of accessing personal data through what is known as “juice jacking” attacks through media or image transfer protocols that are automatically activated when devices are connected.
The Cyber Security Council confirmed in statements to the Emirates News Agency, WAM, that ignoring protection measures and using unsafe charging ports may lead to the theft of data and passwords or the installation of malicious software on phones without the user’s knowledge.
He added that 68% of companies were subjected to attacks originating from untrusted charging ports, causing their data and digital infrastructure to be compromised.
The Council mentioned a number of warning signs that may indicate that devices are exposed to attacks of this type, including rapid battery drain, slow application performance, frequent system crashes, in addition to the appearance of unfamiliar symbols or messages on the device.
The Cybersecurity Council provided a set of preventive instructions in this regard, most notably the necessity of carrying a personal charger while traveling, avoiding using public charging ports as much as possible, and rejecting any requests to transfer data during the charging process.
The Council recommended activating two-step verification, using biometric access technologies such as fingerprint 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 stressed the need to ensure the safety of applications installed on devices, pointing out that some applications may contain malicious software that allows hackers to steal personal data or spy on users, and their risks may extend to financial fraud and theft of bank card and electronic account data.
The Cyber Security Council had launched a weekly awareness campaign within the Cyber Pulse Initiative, with the aim of enhancing community awareness of safe practices in the digital space and providing guidance on how to confront various cyber threats.
The awareness campaign comes as part of the UAE’s ongoing efforts to build a secure cyberspace that keeps pace with the rapid digital development and aims to enhance confidence in the digital system and raise the level of awareness of cybersecurity among all segments of society to ensure the protection of users’ privacy and safety in light of the growing digital transformation.
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