MicroSD cards have a big problem with fake storage

Thanks to the hype around AI data centers, there is a continuing chip crisis that is driving up prices not only for RAM and SSDs used in computers and phones, but also for external drives, USB drives, and even memory cards, like microSD. For many people, this means getting a good deal when they see one. These deals, however, could end up becoming a poison pill that could erase a player’s entire library of titles or destroy tens of thousands of photos from your camera due to counterfeiting.

The phenomenon of counterfeit memory products is not new. For years, third-party sellers have taken discarded storage chips from major manufacturers and injected them with firmware that signals a false limit to connected devices and corrupts data written beyond the actual limit. They then use packaging similar to branded products and sell these fake memory cards online. That 2TB drive you just grabbed might end up being worth only 64GB.

Fraudulent readers and cards are just one hurdle to avoid in a market full of no-name products that may or may not perform on the same level as a Western Digital, Kingston, Samsung, or SanDisk item. There’s not much you can do before you buy to ensure you’re getting the real deal, but we recommend you adopt a procedure to minimize the impact if you find a fake.

Your best bet is to purchase from brick-and-mortar retailers like Best Buy, Micro Center, or CVS. The inventory here should come directly from the manufacturer, so you will almost always get the amount of storage advertised. If you’re shopping online, check who the seller is. Yes, you can find lower prices on Amazon, especially during a Prime Day or holiday event, but make sure Amazon or your memory brand of choice is the one selling it. Also review the returns and exchanges policy.

Before using your drive for the first time, plug it into a computer and run a validation application to confirm the size of the drive. There are many, like the free, DIY-oriented Fight Flash Fraud suite, compatible with Linux, macOS, and Windows. Other examples include F3XSwift and ValiDrive from Gibson Research. This process may take up to a few hours depending on the size of your disk. To find out if a drive can achieve advertised speeds, CrystalDiskMark and AmorphousDiskMark are must-have programs for Windows and macOS, respectively.

You might look down on chipmakers who sell their scraps on the open market so they can be exploited that way, but there’s no law stopping them from using that route to maximize their profits. However, a mix-up at the seller’s factory or warehouse means you may be suffering from a faulty drive or card. All we can really do as consumers is be aware of it and stay prepared to deal with it.