Lesson 17 of 19 · About 4 minutes
Free lesson: charge safely
Learn the concept.
Need a charge? Bring your own. At an airport gate, you need power for your phone. You do not need to grant a public connection access to your photos, contacts, or files.
Need power? Keep data separate.
Need a charge? Bring your own.
- Own adapter + wall outlet
A power source without a kiosk data connection.
- Unexpected Trust / Allow prompt
Decline access. Switch power sources if needed.
Read the visualDoes a Trust prompt prove the connection has stolen something?
No. It asks for permission. Decline it on an unfamiliar public connection.
Power and data are different
USB can carry power and data. A charging connection does not need permission to read your files. If an unfamiliar public port asks “Trust This Computer?” or “Allow access?”, choose “Don’t Trust,” “Don’t Allow,” or “Charge only.” Wording varies by device. A trust prompt is a reason to decline data access, not proof an attack has happened.
Bring a power source you control
Use your own charging adapter in a wall outlet, or your own power bank. A charge-only cable that does not carry data is another option. Your own ordinary data cable alone does not turn an unfamiliar USB port into a power-only connection. Keep your device software updated as well.
Understand what declining does
On an iPhone, choosing not to trust blocks that computer’s access to the device’s content. Charging can usually continue without allowing data access, but device settings and accessories vary. If yours will not charge, unplug and use your own adapter or power bank rather than granting access just to get power.
Keep the risk in perspective
FCC, FBI, and TSA advisories recommend precautions around public USB charging. They are not evidence that a particular airport port is compromised. Choose the easy precaution without assuming that plugging in means your phone was hacked. If you already used a port, an unexpected prompt alone does not establish that data was taken.
Put it in context
At a fictional airport gate, your battery is low. Choose an outlet with your own adapter or your power bank. Then handle a separate “Trust This Computer?” practice prompt from a public USB connection. The exercise never connects to a real device.
Make a decision.
Explore the practice space, then answer the check-in below. A correct answer lets you save this lesson to your progress.
PRACTICE · FICTIONAL SCENARIO
A little power before boarding.
Choose your own charger and a wall outlet, or your own power bank. Then practice declining an unexpected request to trust a public USB connection.
Enable JavaScript to try the controls. This practice does not change real settings or submit personal information.
Take this with you.
Use your own charger and a wall outlet, a power bank, or a charge-only cable. Decline unexpected requests for data access.
Next lesson: Free lesson: fake virus alerts- Your charger + a wall outlet.
- Power bank or charge-only cable.
- Never tap “Trust” on public ports.
Decline “Allow access?” or choose “Charge only,” too. If the phone will not charge without data access, unplug and use your own power supply.
See it in a Short.
Optional video companions from MyCyberTutor. Your lesson progress stays here.