Let me start with Selena Larson’s (a CNN tech reporter) opening idea of this article, “I know the feeling: Your battery is low, but you have to keep tweeting. You see a USB port or an outlet in public, plug in your device and feel the sweet relief of your phone charging.”
It is explained in the article that if a port is compromised, there’s no limit to what information a hacker could steal. Security researchers call “Juice jacking” a method hacker utilized to steal mobile devices’ information such as: email, text messages, photos and so forth via a loaded charging station. I believe this is the case of a lot of people out there, especially when travelling. To a surprise, even I.T. security professionals.
One of the best ways to avoid being hacked via a public charging station is to use your own portable USB battery pack. Other good suggestions can also be found in the article below.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/02/15/technology/public-ports-charging-bad-stop/
I’m not surprised that charging stations with USB outlets are at risk, but I’m not clear from this article if traditional outlets could also be used to hack your phone. The article recommends using your own portable USB battery pack, but if you have your own USB cord and plug, are you really at risk if you plug this into a traditional wall outlet?
If I’m not mistaken, I believe the author is referring to the wireless portable USB chargers. The ones you charge at home and carry around to simply plug into your smart device once running out of battery.