These days it isn’t uncommon to see folks hovering around outlets at the airport trying to charge their devices. I've seen a bunch of people at Des Moines International Airport sitting on the floor next to an outlet. Things have gotten so bad that most airports have installed charging stations, but you may want to think twice before you plug your phone or laptop into one of them.
According to experts, these stations could put your devices in danger, since they can easily be used by cybercriminals to either install malware on your phone, or steal your info without your knowledge.
“Plugging into a public USB port is kind of like finding a toothbrush on the side of the road and deciding to stick it in your mouth,” Caleb Barlow, vice-president of X-Force Threat Intelligence at IBM Securit,y says. “You have no idea where that thing has been.”
Barlow suggests travelers stick to a regular charger in a wall outlet, or, (and this is the option that Boo and I use) bring a portable power bank so you can charge your phone if desperate for power. In fact, if you and a partner travel with a backpack, take a couple charging blocks. They are really handy throughout the day.