Juice jacking: an insidious threat

When you plug your phone into a USB terminal in a public place (train station, airport, hotel, shopping mall, etc.), you're not just recharging your battery. You're also opening the door, sometimes unwittingly, to cybercriminals.

They can install malware directly on the USB ports of the terminals. As soon as you connect, malware can be transferred to your device, enabling :

• steal personal data (contacts, photos, passwords),

• take control of your smartphone,

• or exfiltrate your bank details.
  
  

What should you do to recharge safely?

Here are a few best practices to limit the risks:

🔋 Prefer an external battery (power bank): your best ally for staying autonomous without danger.
⚡ Use a conventional electrical outlet with your mains charger.
🔌 Avoid public USB terminals, especially if they seem tampered with or unidentified.
🛡 Use a charging cable without data transfer or a “data blocker” type USB adapter.
🔒 Keep your phone locked during charging.
📴 Activate airplane mode or turn off the device while charging.
🧰 Install a mobile antivirus to detect malware.
✅ Use certified charging stations, such as those offered by DirectCharge, ChargeBox or TheKeepers, tested and secured for public use.

On the manufacturers' side, Apple and Android also offer safeguards: always remember to refuse the trust request if it appears during a USB connection on an unknown port.

🔐 And what about BubblesMapper?

At BubblesMapper, we do more than map amenities. We contribute to safer urban mobility, helping you find verified charging locations in trusted environments - whether at our private partners, in secure public spaces, or in high-traffic locations like trusted cafés or hotels.

🗺 Thanks to our app, quickly identify a place to recharge your smartphone without compromising your data.
✨ Safety, comfort, and mobility: that's our commitment.

📍 Know of a reliable recharging point?

Share it in BubblesMapper! Together, let's grow a network of safe digital conveniences across Europe.