Public “chargers”

Public “chargers” can be found, for example, in public transportation, cafés, libraries, airports, shopping malls, etc.

Of course, a distinction must be made here between simple power outlets and USB charging ports.

The worst thing that can happen with normal power outlets is that your own charger breaks. Apart from that, your own charger is only good for charging and can’t really do anything else.

It’s a different story with USB charging sockets. For years, there have been increasing cases of manipulated charging sockets that contain not only a power source but also entire microprocessors that attempt to access the connected device. This could allow malware to be installed, memory to be accessed, and so on.

Fortunately, all (mobile) operating systems are now equipped with protective measures and ask users whether the connected “device” should be given access to the mobile phone. If you are charging you phone somewhere and a warning pops up on your device, this should make you suspicious.

This can also be prevented by only using USB cables without “data lines” for charging. These are cables that cannot be used to transfer data. You can usually test this yourself on your own computer. If you cannot access your mobile phone with the USB cable, then this USB cable most likely only has two wires: positive and negative. No data can be transferred via these wires.

So, be careful with USB charging sockets, as they may have been tampered with! Unlike tampered power outlets, where your own charger is still plugged in, a tampered power supply can seriously damage your device.

It is therefore advisable to avoid these sockets. If you have to use one, it is best to:

1. only use two-wire USB cables
2. use sockets where you have seen someone charge a mobile phone before without it being thrown off afterwards.

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