What it’s essential to know
Google is including a characteristic in Android 15 to dam shady information transfers at public charging stations referred to as “juice jacking.”Juice jacking makes use of USB charging ports to put in malware, run unauthorized instructions, or steal information.Android 15’s Lockdown mode will utterly disable USB information switch whereas nonetheless permitting charging.
Google is including a brand new characteristic to Android 15 that works to dam shady information transfers at public charging stations.
Android sleuth Mishaal Rahman, writing for Android Authority, has discovered a brand new safety characteristic for Lockdown mode within the newest Android 15 beta. This characteristic protects your gadget from a sneaky hacker tactic known as “juice jacking,” which takes benefit of USB charging cables to sneak in malware, run unauthorized instructions, set up undesirable apps, or mess along with your information.
Juice jacking is a hidden danger that got here to life because of the widespread availability of USB charging ports. This cyberattack exploits the cellphone’s single port for energy and information switch. Utilizing a compromised public station can open the door for hackers to put in malware, steal private information, or take full management of your cellphone.
Whereas Rahman acknowledges the dangers of juice jacking, he additionally factors out the present safety measures that assist mitigate these threats. For example, Android’s default settings already block USB Debugging till the gadget is unlocked. Plus, accessing gadget information requires switching to file switch mode. These built-in safeguards create a powerful protection towards unauthorized ADB instructions or makes an attempt to entry your information.
Nonetheless, Rahman admits {that a} completely executed juice jacking assault might critically compromise your gadget. To fight this, Android 15 is introducing a major improve to Lockdown mode. This new characteristic utterly disables USB information switch whereas nonetheless permitting charging. This implies you possibly can cost your cellphone at public stations with out worrying about your information being in danger.
To allow this safety, simply maintain down the facility button and choose “Lockdown” from the Energy menu (in case your settings enable it). One faucet prompts a digital protect round your information.
Rahman examined the characteristic on a Pixel 6 Professional and one other gadget working Android 14. The decision was clear: Android 15 cuts off all USB information transfers when Lockdown is activated.
Pixel customers with suitable fashions can look ahead to this characteristic with the official Android 15 replace. Customers of different Android telephones may need to attend a bit longer, as it will likely be as much as particular person producers to replace their USB {Hardware} Abstraction Layer (HAL) to help the brand new Lockdown mode APIs.
Despite the fact that the percentages of a juice-jacking assault are slim, Android 15’s upgraded Lockdown mode supplies an additional layer of safety for cautious customers. Public charging worries generally is a factor of the previous.