$SOL Programmer buys 12 USB drives on Amazon and, upon discovering that they were all a scam, launches a free tool to detect them. The purchase of storage devices at suspiciously low prices remains a frequent risk on platforms like Amazon. In September 2023, a programmer acquired 12 USB drives from unknown brands and discovered that they all employed a trick to simulate storage capacities that they did not actually possess.

This finding not only revealed the extent of the problem but also prompted the creation of a free solution for users. The discovery of the fake USBs and the creation of ValiDrive. During tests of a new version of the SpinRite software, one of the testers noticed irregularities in a USB drive. The device appeared to have a large amount of space, but in reality, most of the data could not be effectively saved. This happens because the operating system shows the space as available, even though it is not.