Counterfeit And Substandard Semiconductors: The Solution To The Threats

All of these components are causing production and maintenance failures that range all the way from inconvenient to deadly. Added to the already overwhelming mix of components that just don’t perform properly – or at all – are components armed with malicious “extras” that can destroy systems, cause malfunctions, or covertly gather proprietary information. Counterfeit and substandard semiconductors are causing loss of revenue and loss of company credibility in virtually every industry. Malicious insertion threatens national security.

Technology is making it easier for “entrepreneurs” to produce and market counterfeit and substandard semiconductors, and, though technology may contribute to methods we can use to detect the “bad” ones from the genuine, it will take good, old-fashioned cooperation, info-dissemination, and application of best practices to prevent further encroachment of this destructive industry. Most purchasing officers are unaware that “testing” provided by unauthorized distributors is inadequate at best, and is never a viable option for assuring quality. To be effective, testing must always be done with the test programs and equipment of the original component manufacturer. Unauthorized sources do not have access to such intellectual property.

The most reliable way to avoid purchasing substandard and counterfeit semiconductors is to purchase only from original manufacturers or their authorized distributors.