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14 August 2024  Amanda J. Brook  Senior Product Manager
 

Summary
The article discusses the prevalence of counterfeit USB flash drives that falsely advertise large storage capacities at very low prices. These fake drives appear to have the advertised capacity when connected to a computer, but their actual usable storage is much smaller. The article aims to educate readers on how to detect these counterfeit drives, the risks associated with using them, and introduces tools like Validrive that can help verify the true storage capacity of flash drives.



Table of contents

table iconUnderstanding Fake Flash Drives
table iconDetecting Fake Flash Drives
table iconIdentifying Fake Flash Drives with software
table iconHandling Data Recovery from Fake Flash Drives
table iconConclusion
The market is flooded with counterfeit USB flash drives that claim to offer one or two terabytes of storage at unbelievably low prices. These drives deceive buyers by showing the claimed storage capacity when plugged into a computer, but in reality, they may only have a fraction of that capacity. This article will guide you on how to detect fake flash drives, explain the risks involved, and introduce tools like Validrive that can help you identify the real storage capacity of your flash drives.
fake usb drive

Understanding Fake Flash Drives

Fake flash drives deceive buyers into thinking they are purchasing high-capacity USB storage devices. Often these drives claim to offer terabytes of storage for prices as low as $9.99, but their actual usable storage capacity is far less. They use technical manipulation to misrepresent their capabilities.
Fake Flash Drive with very low price
Genuine high-capacity flash drives, such as 1TB or 2TB, generally cost over $80. Flash drives claiming to offer terabytes of storage for a fraction of the usual cost are likely fake or of very low quality. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Detecting Fake Flash Drives

Physical Examination

Inspect the physical features of the drive. Fake flash drives often use generic housings or are built to look similar to legitimate brands. Look for inconsistencies in labeling, build quality, and specifications. For example, a drive claiming to be USB 2.0 but advertising fast multi-terabyte storage is highly suspicious because USB 2.0 is limited to a maximum theoretical transfer speed of 480 Mbps, which is not suitable for handling large amounts of data efficiently.

Suspicious Listings

Listings for fake flash drives often contain poor grammar, vague descriptions, and exaggerated claims. Descriptions like “Large-Capacity Storage: USB Flash drive super space” and promises of “excellent water resistance, magnetic resistance, high-temperature resistance, and X-ray resistance” should raise red flags.

Identifying Fake Flash Drives with software

Use diagnostic tools to check the drive’s reported capacity against its actual storage. Tools like Validrive, CapacityTester, MyDiskTest and H2testw can help determine if the drive is an expansion disk.

Using Validrive

Validrive is a tool created by Gibson Research that helps identify the real storage capacity of flash drives. It works by writing random data across the entire supposed storage of the drive and then reading it back. If the data matches, the storage is real; if not, it is fake.
Validrive
To use Validrive, you can test a flash drive without erasing it. The software restores any pre-existing data if it tests a region already containing data. However, it is advisable to copy any critical information off the drive before testing.
Validrive Test
When you run the software, click “Validate THIS Drive”. If the drive is already inserted, you may need to reinsert it for the software to detect it.
Validrive Check
The results will show the real and fake portions of the drive. Validrive also provides a report with detailed information, including the declared size and the validated actual drive size.
Validrive Scan Result

Handling Data Recovery from Fake Flash Drives

When dealing with fake flash drives, data recovery can be challenging. Since these drives often do not store data as they claim, recovering lost data may be impossible. If the hard disk data is lost, you can use Renee Undeleter to restore the data

1. What is Renee Undeleter?

Renee Undeleter is a comprehensive data recovery software that can assist in retrieving a wide range of files that have been lost due to accidental deletion, recycle bin emptying, disk or memory card formatting, and various other data loss incidents. This robust tool includes four essential modules: Fast Partition Scan, Whole Partition Scan, Whole Disk Scan, and Image Creation, offering a multifaceted approach to restoring lost data during system operation.
Renee Undeleter - Powerful Data Recovery SoftwareRenee Undeleter data Recovery software

Easy to use Only simple steps to recover data from storage devices.

Multiple scan modes Fast partition scan, whole partition scan and whole disk scan for different recovery needs.

File types Support to recover pictures, videos, audios, documents, mails, etc.

Supported storage devices Recover data from recycle bin, SD card, external disk, etc.

Supported systems Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP, 2000 and Mac OS X10.6, 10.7, 10.8.

Easy to use Only simple steps to recover data from storage devices.

Multiple scan modes - 3 scan modes for different recovery needs.

Supported storage devices Recover data from recycle bin, SD card, external disk, etc.

Free TrialFree TrialFree Trial

3000 users have downloaded Renee Undeleter and found data back!

2. How to recover hard disk data with Renee Undeleter?

Restoring data with Renee Undeleter is very simple, the specific steps are as follows:
Step 1: Download, install and run Renee Undeleter, select the (Whole Disk Scan) option on the main interface. Note: Do not install on the disk that needs to restore data, so as not to cause data overwriting.
select whole disk scan to scan disk in renee undeleter
Data Recovery Features:
* Fast Partition Scan: Recovers files from accidental deletions or recycle bin clearance.
* Whole Partition Scan: Restores files from inaccessible or formatted partitions.
* Whole Disk Scan: Analyzes partition information for a comprehensive disk scan.
* Image Creation: Generates a partition mirror image for backup purposes.
Step 2: Next, select the hard disk device to be scanned, and click (Next). Select (default setting) on the advanced setting interface.
select a disk to recover in renee undeleter
Step 3: The software will initiate a scan of the hard drive and present a “Select the drive you need to scan” message. Select the appropriate partition. After the scan, preview the files by double-clicking in the preview pane on the right. To recover a file, highlight it and click the Recover button located at the bottom-right corner.
preview before recovery
Step 4: Click (Browse) to select another disk to save the recovered files, and then click the (Restore) button to start the file recovery command, you just need to wait patiently.
recover the whole disk data
Do Not Write Any New Data to the Drive : New data being written to a fake flash drive jeopardizes the integrity of any critical files that may still be intact on the drive. Ensure the use of the drive is strictly limited.

Document and Report : Keep a record of the fake drives you encounter and report these cases to relevant authorities or platforms.

Communicate with the Customer : If you are an IT professional, clearly explain the situation to your customer. Let them know that data recovery from a fake flash drive may not be possible.

Attempt Recovery : In cases where data has been stored on a counterfeit drive, a professional data recovery service may be able to attempt recovering data.

Conclusion

Fake flash drives pose a significant risk to data integrity and can lead to data loss. By understanding how to detect fake flash drives and using tools like Validrive and CapacityTester, you can verify the authenticity of your storage devices. Always purchase from reputable sellers and be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true.
Renee Undeleter - Powerful Data Recovery SoftwareRenee Undeleter data Recovery software

Easy to use Only simple steps to recover data from storage devices.

Multiple scan modes Fast partition scan, whole partition scan and whole disk scan for different recovery needs.

File types Support to recover pictures, videos, audios, documents, mails, etc.

Supported storage devices Recover data from recycle bin, SD card, external disk, etc.

Supported systems Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP, 2000 and Mac OS X10.6, 10.7, 10.8.

Easy to use Only simple steps to recover data from storage devices.

Multiple scan modes - 3 scan modes for different recovery needs.

Supported storage devices Recover data from recycle bin, SD card, external disk, etc.

Free TrialFree TrialFree Trial

3000 users have downloaded Renee Undeleter and found data back!