You know the feeling. You're traveling, and your phone's battery is at 2%. Desperately, you search your bag for the charging cable you always keep there – only to remember you lent it to your friend last week and never got it back. What to do? Is sharing a charging cable safe?
A. Smile, thank you, grab the cable, and plug it into your phone.
B. Say "No, thank you" before walking away with a dead cell phone.
If you chose B, you made the right choice. Cybersecurity experts warn against using a stranger's charging cable or borrowing one from an airport official or front-desk concierge at a hotel.
Charles Henderson, a global managing partner and head of X-Force Red at IBM Security, warns that cyberhackers can easily implant charging cables with malware to hijack mobile devices and computers. These hacked cables can spell disaster for the desperate traveler who graciously accepted the spare cable from their fellow passenger and plugged in their phone or laptop. These compromised cables can be used to access the device remotely and are available on the Darknet for just $200 each.
Unlike most scams aiming for as broad a target base as possible, using a charging cable to hack a victim's device can only be pulled off on one victim at a time. Lucky for us, this means the charging cable hack isn't as widespread – yet. Henderson warns that the relatively inexpensive technology for the hack and the fact that it is so easy to make the cable look innocent could mean an upsurge soon. For now, it's best to be aware of this threat and to practice caution when traveling.
Is sharing a charging cable safe? Maybe if you borrow it from a trusted friend or family member. But to avoid falling victim, always pack an extra charging cable in your handbag. If you forgot to take one or can't find it, purchase a new one to use while on vacation or while traveling. Better safe than sorry. Like this post? Check out our other posts on our Money Smart Tips Blog.