If you are travelling this holiday season, keeping your phone and other mobile devices charged is a must. We rely on our smartphones for communication and entertainment; not to mention travel routing, weather, itinerary and ride hailing.

So that's why the USB charging stations that have been popping up at airports have been considered a blessing. That is, until recently. This month, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office shared a warning against using public USB ports for charging.

From the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office:

Travelers should avoid using public USB power charging stations in airports, hotels and other locations because they may contain dangerous malware.

In the USB Charger Scam, often called "juice jacking," criminals load malware onto charging stations or cables they leave plugged in at the stations so they may infect the phones and other electronic devices of unsuspecting users.

The malware may lock the device or export data and passwords directly to the scammer.

So what can you do to keep your smartphone charged without putting it at risk of hacking? Use a traditional AC power outlet instead of a USB charging station. A travel power strip or charging station can do the trick, and many of these include convenient USB ports. Also, consider bringing a power bank or portable charger to keep your devices charged. All of these options will keep your phone's data untethered to potential hacking.

Find these electronic devices and other convenient travel items at your local AAA branch, where you'll also enjoy a discount thanks to your AAA discount.