f3read

The command line tool f3read is a software utility primarily used for testing and verifying the authenticity of USB flash drives or external hard drives. It is part of the f3 package, which also includes other related tools like f3write and f3probe.

The main purpose of f3read is to perform a thorough check of the actual capacity of a storage device, ensuring that it matches the claimed size. It does this by creating a large test file on the drive and then reading it back to verify if the data remains intact. This process helps to identify counterfeit or fake storage devices that may falsely report their capacity.

Some key features of f3read include:

1. Capacity verification: It checks if the actual capacity reported by the device matches the expected capacity.
2. File system testing: It can also test the compatibility and integrity of different file systems (such as FAT, NTFS, or ext3) on the storage device.
3. Performance assessment: By measuring the read speed of the device, it provides an indication of its performance.

F3read is a cross-platform tool and is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows operating systems. It is a command line tool, meaning it is primarily used through the terminal or command prompt. The output provided by f3read gives detailed information about the device's capabilities, performance, and potential issues.

Overall, f3read is a useful command line tool for verifying the storage capacity and integrity of USB flash drives or external hard drives, helping users to identify counterfeit or unreliable devices.