Should consumers check for authentic batteries?

Here's how the FBI says consumers should check for authentic batteries and why they should buy batteries with special care. The FBI has issued a public service announcement (PSA) warning consumers of the risks of buying counterfeit batteries for their devices.

How do I know if my Makita battery is genuine?

Compare Performance: If you have doubts about the authenticity of your battery, compare its performance to that of a genuine Makita battery. Genuine batteries typically provide consistent power and runtime, whereas fake ones may falter under heavy use. Here are some additional tips to help you distinguish between genuine and fake Makita batteries:

What happens when a battery pack is authenticated?

When the host and the authentication device have completed the calculation, the host reads the authentication digest value from the authentication device. It then compares it to its own value. If the values match, the battery pack is authenticated.

How do you know if a Milwaukee battery is fake?

Counterfeit products often come in blister packaging with paperboard on the outside. On the battery itself, genuine Milwaukee batteries will have crisp, clear labels. The font and placement of the Milwaukee logo should be sharp and correctly aligned. In contrast, fake batteries might feature blurry, faded, or slightly off-center logos and labels.

How do I know if a battery pack is a portable product?

Several authentication schemes currently are used to identify that a battery pack is intended for specific portable products. The most common is the form factor or physical connection. Every cell phone battery pack on the market has a different form factor.

How do you authenticate a battery pack?

To authenticate a battery pack, the host generates a 160-bit random challenge. The generated random challenge is transmitted to the authentication device, which uses the secret key along with the 160-bit random challenge from the host to calculate the authentication digest value.