Traveling? Bring a Charger—Not Just a Cord

As convenient as airport USB charging stations might seem, security experts say it’s best to pack your own charger—and not rely on those public ports.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has warned travelers that public USB ports can potentially be tampered with. A technique called “juice jacking” involves hackers modifying a USB station so that when a traveler plugs in their device, hidden malware can be installed. That malware could then give a criminal access to your data or even your identity.

It sounds like something out of a spy movie—and travel experts agree it mostly is.

“Juice jacking is more urban legend than real threat,” says travel expert Gary Leff. While technically possible, he points out that there are no well-documented cases of juice jacking actually happening in the wild. The warning isn’t without reason, but the risk appears to be extremely low.

Still, if you’d rather play it safe, the fix is simple. Pack your own charger and plug it into a standard wall outlet, not a USB-only port. You can also bring a power bank to keep your phone or tablet charged throughout your trip without having to hunt for an outlet at all.

So before heading to the airport, don’t just toss a cord in your carry-on—grab the charger, too. It’s a small move that could save you some major headaches.