Why You Should Never Use USB Charging Stations At Airports

While unfortunate, travelling does carry a slight risk of being tricked, robbed or scammed, making us lose money and valuables, and ruining the holiday in the process.

And in recent years, there's been a more insidious form of scamming that's becoming increasingly common. Notice those public charging stations popping up at every corner in airports?

Sure, they may seem like life saviours if your phone is almost flat, but they can also lead to disastrous consequences. In fact, the Los Angeles District Attorney in the US warns travellers to avoid using public chargers, especially the USB type, as they can leave you vulnerable to dangerous malware or "juice jacking", which allows criminals to access your data, such as passwords, videos and other private information.

To avoid falling victim, always use your own portable chargers, cables and plug heads. You can also buy "USB condoms" which are devices that you attach to a USB cable that prevents data transfers.

Despite the potentially harrowing nature of becoming a victim to travel-related troubles, it is important to remember that the vast majority of holidays, getaways and trips are completed without incident. Also, since most crimes that target travellers are crimes of opportunity, preventing the opportunity from arising in the first place is often a good deterrent.

Here are 10 more travel safety tips to bear in mind: