It is possible, as the FCC site suggests, that “malware installed through a corrupted USB port can lock a device or export personal data and passwords directly to the perpetrator.” Criminals can then, in theory, steal valuable passwords or other private data or install spyware. But it’s really only considered to be a desirable attack method for hackers, he said, if they are targeting a particular individual, like a high-level executive, government official, a political dissident, or an investigative journalist. In that case, Thompson said, it’s more common to replace a cable in that person’s office or other space that they will definitely use, he said, rather than sabotaging a public port. It also helps that new Androids and iPhones ask users whether they want to share their data or charge only when they plug into a USB port that is set up—transparently or covertly—to capture data.

The reason the FBI social media person shared it is because the agency “regularly provides reminders and public service announcements in conjunction with our partners.”