Mark Testoni, CEO of SAP National Security Services and a 2019 Wash100 award winner, told Yahoo Finance in a video interview posted Tuesday that some charging docks at airports could make travelers vulnerable to cyber attacks.
He called on travelers to practice caution when connecting to USBs. “The challenge is that USBs can be manipulated. … We need to be really careful when we connect to these things.â€
Instead of using public charging stations, he suggested finding regular plugs or USB ports that do not move data and just serve as charging devices.
Testoni said financial information and credentials can be stolen and that hackers usually look for patterns to steal personal data. He also warned against using public Wi-Fi at airports due to security concerns.
When it comes to data privacy, he said consumers have an important role to play and should have a sense of scepticism when it comes to the internet. He noted that the government needs to educate people more about privacy by launching public awareness campaigns.