BBC News:
Investigators have warned consumers they face potentially fatal risks after 99% of fake Apple chargers failed a basic safety test.
Trading Standards, which commissioned the checks, said counterfeit electrical goods bought online were an “unknown entity”.
Of 400 counterfeit chargers, only three were found to have enough insulation to protect against electric shocks.It comes as Apple has complained of a “flood” of fakes being sold on Amazon.
The article offers more details but, more importantly, gives some tips on how to detect a counterfeit charger. I also worry about the possibility of a bogus charger being used as a malware injection device.
Wait, you mean to tell me that the cheap knock-offs are cheaply made and pose a safety risk? But Apple haters assure me that they’re just as good if not better than Apple’s genuine chargers and that Apple’s only costs more because of corporate greed!
This has become a real problem for Amazon. I find myself shopping elsewhere even if it costs more because I don’t trust I will get legitimate goods from Amazon.
The malware injection device is, unfortunately, a possible concern. iOS tries to prevent the other end of the USB cable from wagging the dog until/unless you “Trust” it, but there’s no guarantee those checks will always work.
Edit: I originally said “reasonable concern.” It probably isn’t. If iPhones were letting chargers take them over, I think we’d hear about it. Still, it’d suck to be the first one!
The 120V AC North American version of the charger has the UL List Mark with “US” in the lower right corner of the mark for use in the United States and a “C” in the lower left corner of the mark for use in Canada. The article talks about the 240 V AC European Union version with the “CE” compliance mark which does not pertain to North America.
When I buy chargers from Amazon, I buy Anker. My thinking is I’d rather have a real Anker than a fake Apple. But for all I know there are faker Anker chargers, too.
“… but, more importantly, gives some tips on how to detect a counterfeit charger. …”
And maybe most importantly, the article reveals Amazon’s near-total lack of concern about fakes and counterfeits. Especially at low prices. Because some people will be too busy to bother with returning a $10 item if it doesn’t work. Amazon profits, the counterfeiter profits, the end user pays the price (and possibly gets shocked or experiences an electrical fire.)
I’d lean toward Belkin, but Anker seems to be a solid brand too.
Yeah, I’m REALLY happy with Anker’s cables in particular. They’re tough. I don’t really know how good their chargers are, though.