Watch Out For 'Juice Jacking' on Your Holiday Trips

Authorities nationwide are issuing warnings to consumers that use USB chargers in public places to get a quick recharge. You are potentially exposing your personal data to theft. Hackers are using public USB charging stations to upload malware on to consumers' devices, a practice known as "juice jacking."

The malware is loaded by the criminals onto the charging stations or cables that are left plugged in at the USB stations. When an unsuspecting consumer plugs into one of those infected ports, their phone or electronic device can be infected and affected with the malware. That malware actions can range from exporting data, bank accounts and passwords to locking up the device.

What can you do to avoid this? First, try to use AC power outlets and not USB charging stations. Take your AC and car charger with you and consider a portable charger or power bank for emergencies. There are also new portable attachments called a "USB condom" that disables the data pin on the USB charger, allowing the device to charge without exposing the device's data.