As Americans and New Yorkers get ready to travel for the July 4 holiday weekend, technology experts are warning about a potential risk facing travelers at airports nationwide. Here's one more thing those who are flying should watch for at airport terminals: a cyber threat many have never heard of.

“Juice. Juice. Jacking,” traveler Jasier Adams said.

“No, I’m not familiar with that term,” another traveler, Patrico Tyrell, said.

“I never heard of that,” Yahsire Mergel said.

So Juice jacking. What is it?

Charlie Pontiakos, manager of cyber threat intelligence for the Center for Internet Security, explained it.

“You plug the USB port directly into another USB slot, and in theory, a malicious actor can put malware onto that charging port and then extract data and other sensitive information from your phone while it’s being charged,” he said.

While the risk is relatively low, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), airport officials and cybersecurity experts say it’s smart to take precautions, especially during busy travel seasons.

“This notion of juice jacking is something we are certainly aware of and mindful, and we work very closely with, whether it be our law enforcement partners at the TSA, who are both on-site at the airport to sort of be aware of and identify these types of threats or security risks,” Albany International Airport spokesman Matt Hunter said.

Experts recommend using a charging brick and cable, plugging into a wall outlet instead of a public USB port and keeping your device’s software up to date.

“Simply just find a wall outlet as your standard no power cord. Connect the cord to a little charging nugget, plug it in and just do it that way,” Pontiakos said.

“I was, you know, absentmindedly using the adapter, understanding that there's a way for people to encrypt or install malware on my phone,” said Eric Kirchhofer.

Travelers say they’re learning about the risks, and thinking twice about how they charge up on the go.

“I just usually just plug in my cord. I don’t really give it a thought. Just plug it in,” Tyrell said.

“Watch out for anybody being suspicious,” Mergel said.

The TSA also warns travelers to be cautious with public Wi-Fi and to avoid entering sensitive information on unsecured networks.

"Whenever you want to connect to any public Wi-Fi, make sure it’s the official Wi-Fi. If you can have a VPN on your phone or laptop, use that for an additional layer of security,” Pontiakos said.

As airports fill up this holiday, experts say a few simple steps can help keep your data and your trip safe.