The airports? Crazy. The weather? Unpredictable. Travel is tough enough … and then your phone dies. Those charging kiosks in airports, hotels and malls can be big timesavers. Their owners promise they’re safe, but the FBI disagrees — and so do I.

Welcome to the newest phase of juice jacking. The phenomenon has been around for more than 10 years. Hackers use public phone charging stations to upload malware to your devices. Then, they ransom your phone or steal your passwords.

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The airports? Crazy. The weather? Unpredictable. Travel is tough enough. But the FBI recently threw a wrinkle in the sheets with a new warning to avoid public phone charging stations.

Those charging kiosks in airports, hotels and malls can be big timesavers, especially for a family on the move. Good news! Owners promise they’re safe. The government disagrees — and so do I. Groan, I know.

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Quick, take your best guess! Which state has the most chargers per registered electric vehicle (EV)? 

Nope, it’s not California — though it is the state with the most EVs and the most EV chargers, all told. There are about 43,000 chargers (that’s 47 for every thousand EVs). That’s below the national average.

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We spend so much on tech that it’s incredibly frustrating when our devices break. A little prevention can go a long way. Here are six checkups to give your tech now to avoid a shocking repair bill later.

Regular maintenance is vital to longevity. Tap or click for my simple action plan to get more years out of your iPhone or Android.

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We can recommend many travel tips, including using the hotel’s safe, bringing an emergency door-stopper and blocking the peephole in your room. Tap or click here for five clever tech steps before you hit the road.

But how many travel tips do you know that focus on the hotel TV? These devices are notorious for being expensive ways to relax between outings. The good news is they can be so much more than that.

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Computers get faster and more advanced daily, but that doesn’t mean you should constantly upgrade. Here are essential laptop maintenance tips that’ll keep your rig running smoothly for a long time.

Batteries aren’t meant to last forever. The one in your laptop has a limited lifecycle, just like any other. You don’t want it dying when you’re in the middle of some big project, do you? 

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Most of us have had to spend some time in the hospital for a day or a more extensive stay. Even if you haven’t, you’re likely close to someone who has.

If you or someone you’re taking care of has a hospital stay coming up, bring along these five essential items to make things easier.

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Are you still buying gas station charging cables for your phone? Stop plugging it into the cigarette lighter and leaning it in the console (we all know it will slip between the seats anyway).

Magnetic-safe wireless charging is finally here for your car. Keep your battery full, your eyes on the road and charge smarter without dropping your phone. Here are our top picks.

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Third-party smartphone accessories are often convenient and affordable, especially in a pinch. The facts, however, suggest that using unauthorized things like chargers could put your household at risk.

Even trustworthy companies have problems with their products at times. One couple learned this valuable lesson after a fire almost destroyed their Maryland home recently. The brand behind the power bank is already pulling products from its site.

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Over the last few years, there have been several instances of people’s phones exploding for no apparent reason. Many victims claim they were using their devices as usual before the ensuing inferno, but that’s often not the entire story.

Read on for details on the latest incident where an iPhone burst into flames.

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Sometimes we take our phones for granted. They’re powerful, incredible devices that we tend to misuse without meaning to. Some common mistakes you’re making with your smartphone now could damage its battery and reduce its lifespan.

We’ll explain how to properly take care of your smartphone to avoid these common mistakes.

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Over the last few years, there have been several instances where mobile phone chargers or batteries caused a fire. For example, a girl went to bed last year while her iPhone charged next to her.

Awoken by flames and suffering from burn wounds, she later explained that her charger caught fire and ignited the blanket. While she claims it was an official Apple charger and cable, several investigators blamed cheaper knock-offs and third-party accessories.

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No matter how good a deal you find on a new tech device, you should avoid off-brand or knockoff products, which have a greater potential for failure or injury. This isn’t to say that big-name devices are entirely safe, however.

Many smartwatches have built-in sleep trackers to help identify problems and improve sleep habits. They’re made to be worn to bed. This may not be the best practice, as one Samsung Galaxy smartwatch owner woke up with burns on his wrist. Tap or click here for the full story and tips on preventing incidents like this.

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Are you traveling abroad? Don’t be one of the many people who forget to bring an adapter for your small electronics. To avoid damaging your electronics (or spending outrageous amounts on adapters at airport shops when you arrive), get ahead of the curve with these excellent international charging adapters.

MINGTONG travel adapter (U.S., U.K., EU, AU)

Do you want built-in fuse protection? You’ve got it. MINGTONG’s quality ensures you can use this in the U.S., U.K., EU and AU without worrying about damaging your phone wire (or the outlet).

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We’re all tied to a handful of devices with rechargeable batteries. What happens when those batteries run out before we get home?

In many cases, we panic. We all want to make our batteries last longer, but as lithium-ion batteries age, they lose maximum power.

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Even the most reliable laptops have an expiration date. But it can be hard to tell whether your machine is dying or just in need of a repair. Luckily, you can look out for a few surefire signs you need a new one.

Need a new laptop but can’t afford it? Just take my one-minute laptop quiz. You’ll answer a few questions about your needs and price range. Then, I’ll tell you which laptop is your best fit.

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Every week, Kim is asked several tech-related questions. Which laptop is best for students? What’s the latest information regarding online safety? What kind of printer would be best for my home office?

This week, Kim received one question in particular that stood out. One Minnesota listener asked, “For my business, I need to find a reputable, compact multiple-station charging station for 10 electronic items, both Android and Apple. I see many on Amazon, but which one can be trusted?”

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It can be challenging to find the perfect outlet that lets you relax and charge your gadgets simultaneously.

If you notice everyone fighting for the best power outlet in your home, or if you can’t connect all your work-related tech at the office, it’s time to look for better power options.

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Your device’s battery life is only as good as the care you put into it. Bad charging habits are common, and while the manual that comes with your phone contains charging tips, you have to read it to understand them.

There are first and third-party apps for everything you can imagine. Some are great and do what you expect, while others perform poorly or are outright scams. Some apps claim to charge your phone faster. Is this fact or fiction? The answer isn’t so black and white. Tap or click here for the story behind these quick-charging apps.

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Everyone gets new gadgets for the holidays, and you know what that means. Yep, everyone will be taking, losing or hoarding all the chargers.

Avoid the charger battles with a few space-saving docks and stations. Keep them in a centralized area so everyone can power up their devices when they need to, and you never have to worry about lost or damaged cables again.

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