TSA urges travelers to avoid these tempting airport freebies
Look across any airport boarding area and you'll see travelers scrolling through their phones and charging their devices before flights, but federal authorities have urged travelers to be careful on both counts.
“Hackers can install malware at USB ports,” the Transportation Safety Administration posted on Facebook earlier in 2025. “So, when you’re at an airport do not plug your phone directly into a USB port. Bring your TSA-compliant power brick or battery pack and plug in there.”
Many airports, like Los Angeles International Airport, offer power outlets easily within travelers' reach.
Here’s what else travelers should know before their next flight:
Is charging your phone at the airport safe?
It depends on how it’s done.
If you have to plug into a public power source, the FCC suggested using an AC outlet or "consider carrying a charging-only cable, which prevents data from sending or receiving while charging, from a trusted supplier."
Is it safe to join public Wi-Fi?
TSA suggests avoiding it.
“Don’t use free public WiFi, especially if you’re planning to make any online purchases,” the TSA warned. “Do not ever enter any sensitive info while using unsecure Wi-Fi.”
“Anytime you’re exchanging some sort of password … you want to be cautious of the networks that you’re on,” Eric Plam, an executive at mobile hotspot company SIMO, told USA TODAY in 2024. Password manager tools can protect and encrypt passwords.
But Plam also advised using a VPN, or virtual private network, when possible. “It’s not a very big investment … and adds an extra layer of security from your computer to whatever server you’re accessing.”
Contributing: Kathleen Wong
