Public Chargers Are Safe to Use

Using a public charger might be convenient, but it can also be dangerous to you and your data. While you might not have any issues, using a public charger leaves your iPhone open to a cyber attack without realizing it.

The reason is that when you plug your iPhone into a random charger, there could be a hacker or scammer on the other end, using a device that not only charges your iPhone but is also capable of transferring data. Your photos, conversations, and personal data could be exported in seconds without you even being aware of what’s happening. While iPhone security features make the chances of this slim, they’re not zero.

Overall, it’s best to avoid public chargers unless you absolutely must use them. It’s also worth noting that this doesn’t apply to public wireless chargers, as there’s no way to transfer data over a Qi or MagSafe connection (yet). Still, if you often find yourself searching for public chargers, you may want to consider getting an external battery.