For most of us, our phones are our lifelines. We use them to keep in touch with friends and family, check email, browse the internet, scroll social media, watch videos, listen to music, and more. And with all that activity, we are quick to charge our phones anywhere we can find an outlet.

What many people don’t know is there are actually some places that are unsafe to charge your phone because your data and device could be at risk. Here are the top five:
  

    

1.  AIRPORTS, TRAIN STATIONS, AND BUS STATIONS

Public transportation stations such as airports, train stations, and bus stations have a variety of charging stations and outlets where you can plug in your phone. However, cybercriminals can modify those USB connections to install malware on your phone or download your data without your knowledge.
  

Additionally, a criminal can even set up their own free charging station and when people plug in their phone, it gets charged but sensitive information also gets copied.
  

It’s much safer to bring your own charger and plug, or better yet, use your own portable power bank. If you want to use public USB ports, invest in a Juice-Jacker Defender, which can block any data from getting passed to the USB port.
  

2.  HOTELS

Your private room at a hotel seems like a safe place to charge your phone, and the USB ports now on most hotel alarm clocks are very handy. Unfortunately, like public places, there is the potential threat of “juice jacking,” a type of cyberattack where hackers can access your data or install malware on your device without you knowing it. Avoid the USB port and use your own cord and plug.
  

    

3.  RENTAL CARS

When a phone is plugged into the active outlet, the phone and the vehicle systems talk to each other. This can transfer your information from your phone to the car, and the car can then store the private information from your phone. Even if someone isn’t maliciously trying to get your information, it can be dangerous to leave your data for the next people who rent the vehicle. Instead, use an adapter with an electrical outlet or a portable charger.
  

4.  TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Not only can someone hack your data or compromise your device from a public charging station, but they may also even be able to remotely turn on your camera or microphone. Cybercriminals can also download photos, apps, information, and more in minutes. Charge your phone before you leave home or use a portable charger.
   

    

5.  SHOPS, LIBRARIES, AND CAFES 

Libraries may seem like a safe space, but their public charging stations can be just as risky. USB hubs in shopping malls or cafes can send your contacts, emails, texts, voicemails, photos, videos, and more to a criminal. In some cases, USB hubs can also copy passwords, banking data, personal contacts, and other personal data you wouldn’t want in anyone else’s hands. Public USB hubs may even transfer malware programs to your phone, rendering it useless.