NHTSA: Beware of counterfeit airbags

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is advising consumers whose vehicles have been in a crash in the past three years to have them inspected for fake parts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a consumer safety advisory regarding counterfeit airbags. These airbags, which the NHTSA says are installed at third party repair shops, can malfunction and jeopardize the lives of vehicle occupants in a crash.

According to the NHTSA, car owners who have been in a crash may have had their airbags replaced with counterfeits. The counterfeit parts look like original equipment, right down to fake manufacturer logos.

However, the counterfeit airbags are not made to the same standards as genuine parts, and have consistently malfunctioned in tests. In a crash, these fake airbags may not deploy, or they may expel metal shrapnel if they do. In one test, an airbag separated from its mounting point, showering the vehicle occupants with sparks from the bag’s pyrotechnics.

While it does not know the full scope of the problem, at the moment the NHTSA estimates that a very small number (0.1 percent) of American vehicles have counterfeit airbags. The NHTSA is not aware of any deaths or injuries due to counterfeit airbags.

The NHTSA is urging consumers whose vehicle has been in a crash within the last three years, and who have had the airbags replaced by a shop that is not part of a new car dealership, to call the manufacturer and have the replacement parts inspected. The safety advisory also applies to anyone who bought a replacement airbag online.

If the manufacturer finds a counterfeit airbag, vehicle owners will need to have it replaced at their own expense.

Consumers who purchased their cars new and have not been in a crash, and people who own a used car that has not had its airbags replaced in the last three years, shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

So far, the NHTSA is aware of counterfeit airbags being made for the following makes and models:

Acura: 2009-2011 TSX

Audi: 2006-2009 A3, A4, A6, A8, Q5, Q7

BMW: 2004-2011 5 Series; 2007-2011 3 Series, X5; 2011-2012 X3

Buick: 2010-2011 Lacrosse

Chevrolet: 2011-2012 Cruze, Volt; 2006-2010 Aveo; 2012 Camaro

Ford: 2012 Focus; 2005-2009 Mustang

Honda: 2003-2012 Accord; 2006-2011 Civic; 2002-2011 CRV; 2007-2011 Fit; 2009-2011 Pilot, Insight; 2010-2011 Crosstour; 2011 Odyssey

Hyundai: 2007-2011 Elantra; (not listed) Genesis, Sonata

Infiniti: 2007-2011 G35/37, EX35

Kia: 2010-2011 Soul, Forte; 2004-2009 Spectra

Land Rover: 2012 Range Rover Evoque

Lexus: 2006-2011 IS; 2003-2008 GX470; 2007-2009 RX350; (not listed) ES350

 Mazda: 2004, 2010-2012 Mazda3

Mercedes: 2009-2011 C-Class, GLK; 2010-2011 E-Class; 2007-2008 S550; 2006-2010 ML; 2009-2010 GL

Mitsubishi: (not listed) Outlander

Nissan: 1992-2002, Quest; 2010-2011 Quest; 2009-2011 Cube; 2007-2011 Versa; 2009-2010 Murano; (not listed) Altima

Subaru: 2008-2009 Forester, Impreza, Outback; 2010-2011 Legacy

Suzuki: 2007-2010 SX4

Toyota: 2002-2006, 2012 Camry; 2009-2011 Corolla, Matrix; 2007-2011 Yaris, Tundra; 2004-2011 Highlander, Sienna, Tacoma; 2010-2012 Prius; 2003-2006 Tundra, Sequoia; 2003-2010 Land Cruiser; 2004-2010 Highlander; 2004-2009 4Runner; 2007-2009 Solara; 2005-2011 RAV4

Volkswagen: 2006-2010 Jetta

Volvo: (not listed) XC60, XC70, V70, S60, S80

The NHTSA is advising all consumers, even ones whose cars do not appear on this list, to have their vehicles inspected if their airbags have been replaced in the last three years. In addition, a vehicle may not have counterfeit airbags just because it is on this list, it just means the NHTSA has found counterfeits made for that model. A full list of manufacturer call centers is available at the NHTSA’s website.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Online Storage vs Offline Storage – Which is better?

Data storage is a major concern not just for companies but also for individual users. As our need for bigger and bigger space increases, so does our worry regarding the safety of our documents and other electronic files. Offline solutions remain popular; after all, external hard disk drives are still commonly used. However, more and more people are considering online solutions either as an alternative or a supplement to their current storage type of choice. So now the question remains: online storage vs offline storage – which is better? Let us take a look at each solution to compare their advantages and limitations.

Convenience

Offline storage requires a device that can keep documents in electronic form. Some of the more common options are USB drives, hard disk drives (internal and external) and optical devices such as CDs and DVDs. To access the data from any of these devices, users have to be able to plug into a computer. The advantage is that they do not need an Internet connection. USB drives are very handy because of their small size but other devices are bulky. If the user requires a large storage capacity, he may even have to use two or more devices in order to accommodate the amount of data that needs to be stored.

Online storage, on the other hand, requires only an Internet connection, a cloud storage facility and a computer. It does not require a physical storage device and data may be accessed from virtually anywhere. However, this option fails if any of the abovementioned factors is missing.

Which is better: Either one works but it all depends on the availability of the tools.

Security

Security is critical particularly for high-risk data. The usual concern for offline storage is that with data being stored in a physical device, there is a danger of corruption in case the device itself is damaged. There is also the risk of loss and unauthorized access in case of theft.

For online storage, users can usually rely on tight security measures implemented by the service provider. The user, for his part, should make sure that the account user ID and associated password he uses is secure. Loss of data can occur, however, in the rare likelihood that the service provider’s servers get corrupted or damaged irreparably or if the user’s account is hacked.

Which is better: Both options offer a secure way of storing data, provided care is practiced by both user and service provider.

Integrity

One of the biggest problems regarding offline storage options such as hard drives is that they could crash. If this happens, data can no longer be retrieved. Great if the user made a backup of the files but if not, important data will be lost or damaged beyond recovery.

This is an area where online options have the upper hand. Storage providers take extra precaution to ensure that data stored in their facilities is safe and secure. They do this by creating redundant hardware that will prevent loss of data.

So which is better? That really depends on the user’s needs, along with the available resources he may have. When deciding on whether to go with an offline or an online solution, consider the pros and cons carefully to ensure that your choice meets your requirements.

Author bio : Peter Lee is the webmaster of ComputerHowToGuide.com. Despite the popularity of cloud storage, Peter still prefer to use external hard drives to store files offline. A cloud storage user himself, he found external storage devices far more secured than the cloud. You may also follow him on Twitter @com_howtoguide.

Source : techtalkafrica[dot]com