Public phone charging ports…beware

i wonder about public charging ports for electric vehicles, not that i would ever own an e.v.

AFAIK, charging ports for cars are strictly for charging. The ports used on phones are both charging and data but you can get cables that will be charge-only or data-only along with the normal charge and data cables.
 
AFAIK, charging ports for cars are strictly for charging. The ports used on phones are both charging and data but you can get cables that will be charge-only or data-only along with the normal charge and data cables.
At a Tesla Supercharger, you just plug in and charging starts. The charger communicates with the car to bill you. You have a credit card attached to the vehicle via your Tesla account.
So as @jstert points out, it is at least possible.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pew
At a Tesla Supercharger, you just plug in and charging starts. The charger communicates with the car to bill you. You have a credit card attached to the vehicle via your Tesla account.
So as @jstert points out, it is at least possible.

I did not realize that; I've never used one before so I thought it was all done at the charger like a gas pump.
 
I did not realize that; I've never used one before so I thought it was all done at the charger like a gas pump.
SuperCharger charging so so dang easy. Back in, plug in and go have a coffee or whatever. 10 to 20 minutes later you went from 10-15 percent to 80-90 percent.
But don't fool around too long; there are idle fees so that uppity Tesla owners don't use the charger as a parking space in busy shopping malls.
 
my wondered concern is about security, not cost or ease or availability. might “it can’t happen to tesla” (or any e.v.) be not an absolute but a challenge?
 
my wondered concern is about security, not cost or ease or availability. might “it can’t happen to tesla” (or any e.v.) be not an absolute but a challenge?
Well, there's crooks everywhere. Swipe a CC. Click on a clickbait link. And there's a lotta smart programmers out there with a lotta time on their hands... One would guess there is a lot more sensitive information on your cell, but just the same, ya never know.
 
71tBTFJSwrL._AC_SL1500_.jpg

https://www.amazon.com/PortaPow-NA-USB-C-Data-Blocker/dp/B082WDHS22/ref=asc_df_B082WDHS22/

My s23 ultra battery lasts 3.5 days but for those s22 owners that get 10 hours .. :LOL:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Just don't enable the data transfer or trust this computer option if you get the popup. It can't hack through it nor will your phone auto select yes. You have to enable the permission. Just deny it and it'll still charge. Or just get some really cheap cable with no data wires.
 
Just don't enable the data transfer or trust this computer option if you get the popup. It can't hack through it nor will your phone auto select yes. You have to enable the permission. Just deny it and it'll still charge. Or just get some really cheap cable with no data wires.

The FBI recommendation is to use an AC power adapter or a USB power pack along with personal cables. Those can’t be hacked. Some of the claims are that cables “left behind” might not even be trustworthy because it’s possible to rig a cable as a source of malware.
 
It's really easy to buy adapters that have the power only connections and not the data transfer pins.
 
use your own power brick, will probably charge faster anyway.

There’s still a matter of trust. I recall there were digital photo viewer frames that had malware built in that could spread through the memory cards used to load photos. Most USB-A power adapters only provide power without any data link, but it might be possible to insert circuitry that stores malware and looks to transfer it if a user sees a “trust” pop up and allows it. Might be possible with cheap, noname stuff. Even cables.
 
It should be fine to use your own cable and plug on outlets that are pretty much everywhere in airports these days. I can sit at a gate and there will be an outlet close by. I usually use the ones on the plane.
 
Back
Top Bottom