A Guide to Spotting a Fake SSD and Avoiding Data Loss
SSDs, or Solid State Drives, have become the new standard for data storage. From external SSDs to internal NVMe drives, SSDs come in a variety of form factors. While shopping for SSDs, it is natural to get overwhelmed as numerous brands offer various SSDs in different form factors.
Among this overwhelming selection of SSDs, counterfeit SSDs are also available that are smartly placed and sold to scam novice or uninformed buyers. These fake SSDs mimic the real ones so much that an untrained eye can easily mistake them for legit SSDs.
Fake SSDs use different ways to dupe the buyers. From reporting incorrect capacities to using outdated or hacked firmware to having eMMC, TF, or SD cards inside the housing instead of a proper drive circuitry. These ‘hacks’ are not only a threat to a buyer’s money and confidence but can also lead to data theft, data loss, privacy breach, and more.
Hence, to safeguard yourself, a close inspection is required that easily helps differentiate between a real and fake SSD.
Therefore, to keep you safe, this guide will give you some handy tips and tricks that can help you protect yourself and your data against such scams. Let’s read them one by one.
Methods to Spot a Fake SSD
As mentioned earlier, it takes a trained eye or professional to spot the minor differences between a fake SSD and a real one. However, with the methods explained below, you, too, can become adept at spotting fake SSDs in the wild.
Method 1: Check the Outer Packaging
This is the first check that you should perform while in the market looking for an SSD. Manufacturers often leave subtle markings, which are hard to reproduce or copy. Also, the quality of the packaging and the printing of text on it can indicate if the SSD is fake or not. A real SSD packaging has sharp text with consistent colors. The quality of the packaging is also high.
In the case of counterfeit SSDs, the same level of sharpness and details are hard to reproduce; hence, the text looks a bit off and sometimes pixelated. The colors seem washed or too vibrant. There could be spelling mistakes or discrepancies in the logos.
Method 2: Check the Holographic Stickers and Seals
Holographic stickers or holograms are used by various brands to safeguard users against counterfeit products. Real SSDs have holographic stickers that show different colors or markings when viewed from different angles. They help establish the authentication of a product and are difficult to imitate precisely.
Fake SSD packaging might have a holographic sticker, but they are mostly static and of low quality. If an SSD packaging has a deformed or damaged hologram or seal, avoid buying it. Also, if you see pockets of air under the sticker, don’t buy it.
Method 3: Check Barcodes and Serial Numbers
Manufacturers ship authentic SSDs with unique serial numbers and barcodes. This helps in identifying them and proving their legitimacy while registering them online. Fake SSD manufacturers can’t get their hands on the genuine ones.
Hence, they create fake serial numbers and barcodes randomly or use duplicate numbers from the real ones, which doesn’t get recognized by the product authenticator on a brand’s website. Therefore, you should check the serial number in the manufacturer’s official database to ensure you have a genuine SSD. If it doesn’t match, it is a big sign that you possess a fake SSD.
Method 4: Buy from Genuine Seller/Online Retailer
We love to buy products from different sources and websites. However, not all websites are safe for making purchases as they can misuse your data, like card details, or ship a counterfeit product that can either harm your data or privacy in a way.
Hence, you should always avoid going on unknown or shady websites. Also, you should not visit websites that don’t use https instead of http. While buying from offline stores, you should only go to renowned stores. Small shops selling a couple of electronics should be a big red flag, and you should not visit them.
You can find a list of authorized resellers on the manufacturer’s website from where you can buy a genuine SSD. You should also consider reading user reviews on Reddit, Quora, Google, etc. They can help you identify the right places to purchase a genuine SSD and avoid scams or unknown shops.
Method 5: Check for Inconsistencies in the Design
It is vital to physically check an SSD for any design flaws or quality issues. Authentic SSDs are consistent with quality and design, thanks to their rigorous QC. However, the same is not the case with the fake SSDs. Lack of quality checks and techniques results in inferior products. If you are unsure about the legitimacy of an SSD you just bought, check for the following –
· Misaligned labels and product logos
· Uneven Edges at the periphery
· Non-uniform polishing/paint
Method 6: Connect and Check in the BIOS
When you first plug in an external SSD with your computer, it also gets listed in BIOS with additional details like storage capacity mentioned there. You can go into BIOS and check the storage capacity of the SSD. Counterfeit SSDs use hacked or an outdated firmware that shows a different storage capacity in the BIOS, unlike what is written on the package.
Authentic SSDs stay consistent with storage capacity and show a value that is the same as the one mentioned on the package. This is a great check to differentiate between an authentic and a fake SSD.
Method 7: Do Performance Checks
You can test the performance of your SSD to check if it is legit. Counterfeit SSDs fail performance tests as they don’t have authentic components like controller or firmware inside. You can use a reputable benchmark software to conduct a performance test on your SSD. Once you have performed the tests, you can compare the obtained results with detailed performance specifications provided by the manufacturer.
You can use CrystalDiskMark, a freeware SSd benchmarking software to test your SSD.
What if Data Loss Happens in a fake SSD?
Some users reported getting scammed with fake SSDs, because of which they lost their data. Fake SSDs with hacked firmware show their capacity as printed on the box. However, their actual capacity is far less than that. This results in only a portion of the data readable. The rest of the data becomes unreadable or inaccessible, which leads to data loss.
To safeguard yourself, completely fill your SSD with data and check if the data is readable or not. If it is, then your drive is genuine, otherwise, a counterfeit. In the case of a fake SSD, the chances of data loss are high. In case of data loss from a fake SSD, you can recover your files using a professional data recovery software and get your work back on track.
Conclusion
Buying an SSD and later finding it to be a fake is disheartening and lowers the credibility of the brand and the seller. A fake SSD is as good as it looks on its package as it is reliable, inferior to its genuine contemporaries, and doesn’t come with a warranty or data recovery tools. A fake SSD is highly susceptible to errors, which could result in data loss.
If you are in the market looking for ways to distinguish between authentic and fake SSDs, the methods explained in the post will help you make the right choice. So, next time you purchase an SSD, you will be better equipped to spot the legit and the fake ones.