There’s no shortage of terrible, abhorrent people who would rather steal from smartphone users than work to earn a living. Now, the TSA warns that those same criminals are targeting travelers via device charging locations and airport WiFi. 

A consumer lawyer shared details on a recent TSA warning about airport WiFi and device chargers

Granted, no one likes the hassles of clearing security at busy airports. It’s a lot of “stand here, take this out, take that off, no, not that.” And that’s if you’re lucky. Not great. But that might not be the most invasive thing you’ll contend with before boarding your next airplane.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently released a warning for travelers. This warning is related not to liquid containers or carry-on size, but to your data and your devices. According to the warning, charging stations, plug-in sites, and publicly accessible airport WiFi may host malicious tools that hackers and criminals use to steal your data. As if travel wasn’t tricky enough. 

“Try not to plug directly into those charging ports,” consumer lawyer and TikToker “consumerhero” recounted from the TSA update. “They have been corrupted by bad actors.” No, not bad actors like Gwenyth Paltrow or Orlando Bloom. Relax, they’re both on IMDB’s list of the Top 100 Worst Actors Ever. No, we’re talking malware-installing, data-stealing bad guys. 

“Also, if you’re using the airport WiFi, which is fine, don’t use it to transmit personal information,” consumerhero said. We’re talking banking, social security numbers, you know, your most sensitive personally identifiable information (PII).

So, what can you do about it? For starters, consider getting a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN can mask your IP address and encrypt your internet traffic. It’s one of the easiest, best ways to protect yourself while using the internet. Beyond that, use a portable battery pack to charge your devices when traveling. Of course, some air travel regulations may limit the size of portable battery chargers. Always consult the TSA official website before traveling with a portable power bank.