练习 | VOA慢速:Why You Should Avoid Public USB Charging Areas?

练习 | VOA慢速:Why You Should Avoid Public USB Charging Areas?

7.3分钟 2836 129wpm

为何要避免使用公共USB充电区?

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VOA慢速:Why You Should Avoid Public USB Charging Areas
为何要避免使用公共USB充电区

燕山大学 刘立军 宋崴 编写

◆TRANSCRIPT


Your telephone is running low on power while you wait to fly out of an airport.

Other people have connected their cell phones and other devices to electrical outlets in the waiting area. Like you, they are preparing for the flight.

Then you discover a public USB charging area close by. You quickly reach for a charge cord and connect your phone to the charging hub. Then you take a deep breath and sit back, happy to get the power for free.

What could go wrong? Plenty.

Why you should avoid using USB hubs to charge your phone

In addition to providing electrical current, phone charge cords can send and receive data. That free USB charging hub at an airport, hotel or other public place may not only charge your phone. It also could be transferring information to and from the device.

The USB charging hub could be connected to your phone and copy your contact list, email and text messages, voice mails, photographs and videos. It can also copy passwords, banking information, personal contacts and any other information stored on your phone.

That public USB hub may even download programs, such as malware and tracking software, to your phone. This form of data transfer is known as "juice jacking."

How to protect yourself from juice jacking

If you want to charge your phone while traveling, you have other choices that do not increase your risks.

Here are ways you can avoid juice jacking:

Connect your phone only to electrical outlets so data transfer is not possible. An available outlet may not be as near as a USB charging hub, but the few extra steps may keep you safe. It is better to use a distant wall outlet than a nearby USB charging hub.

Carry a cord that only transfers electricity, not data. Be sure to mark the cord so you do not accidentally use it when you need to transfer data, such as saving photos to your computer.

Carry an extra, fully-charged battery. Having one means you can charge your phone without having to worry about carrying a special cord or finding a power outlet. You can charge your phone with the extra battery wherever you are, even when you are far away from an outlet.

If you must use a public USB charging center, make sure to turn off your phone completely. This may or may not prevent data transfer. But it will reduce the chances of it happening, depending on what phone you have.

Remember to fully charge your phone before you leave home or work.

iOS and Android operating systems have security programs designed to prevent juice jacking. But the safest way to charge your phone is to avoid public USB hubs.

Anyone can be fooled by USB hubs

A few years ago, a computer security conference was held in Las Vegas, Nevada. One security company set up USB charging areas that had video screens. The screens showed the message: Free Cell Phone Charging.

But when conference attendees connected their phones to the charging centers, the screens turned red and showed this warning:

"You should not trust public kiosks with your smart phone. Information can be retrieved or downloaded without your consent. Luckily for you, this station has taken the ethical route and your data is safe. Enjoy the free charge!"

Brian Markus is chief executive officer for Aires Security, which set up the USB hubs. He explained that the purpose was to show how even security experts could be persuaded to charge their phones at such centers.

Markus told KrebsOnSecurity, "Anyone who had an inclination to could put a system inside of one of these kiosks that when someone connects their phone can suck down all of the photos and data, or write malware to the device."

Not all USB charging hubs are evil

Naturally, not every USB charging hub is operated by those who are trying to take data from your phone or download malware onto it. Many charging stations just do what they say, charge your phone for free.

But you should know that you are taking a risk when you connect to a public USB charging hub. It is better to be safe and charge from an electrical outlet rather than a USB port.

I'm Ashley Thompson.

Adapted from 避免使用公共USB充电区

◆VOCABULARY

1.hub n. hub (of sth.) the central and most important part of a particular place or activity (某地或活动的)中心,核心。例如:
○the commercial hub of the city城市的商业中心
○to be at the hub of things (= where things happen and important decisions are made) 在核心部门
○a hub airport (= a large important one where people often change from one plane to another)大型中转机场

2.malware n. 恶意软件; 恶意软件。malware是malicious software的合成形式。

◆QUESTIONS
Read the table. Then listen to the news and complete the table.


QUESTION

ANSWER

1

Why you should avoid using USB hubs to charge your phone?

In addition to providing _____________________, phone charge cords can send and receive ______________.

The USB charging hub could be connected to your phone and ___________ your contact list, email and text messages, voice mails, photographs and videos. It can also copy passwords, banking information, personal contacts and any other ________________________________.

That public USB hub may even ______________________, such as malware and tracking software, to your phone.

2

How to protect yourself from juice jacking?

 

Connect your phone only to ______________________ so data transfer is not possible.

Carry a cord that only transfers electricity, not _____________.

Carry an extra, fully-charged _______________.

If you must use a public USB charging center, make sure to ___________________________.

Remember to __________________________ before you leave home or work.

3

Anyone can be fooled by USB hubs

 

Anyone who __________________________________ could ____________________________ one of these kiosks that when someone connects their phone can suck down all of the photos and data, or write malware to the device.

4

Not all USB charging hubs are evil

But you should know that you are ___________________ when you connect to __________________________. It is better to be safe and charge from ______________________ rather than a USB port.




◆KEY
1. electrical current
2. data
3. copy
4. information stored on your phone
5. download programs
6. electrical outlets
7. data
8. battery
9. turn off your phone completely
10. fully charge your phone
11. had an inclination to
12. put a system inside of
13. taking a risk
14. a public USB charging hub
15. an electrical outlet

  • 时长:7.3分钟
  • 语速:129wpm
  • 来源:刘立军、宋葳 2017-09-14