February 10, 2023, 4:24 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Anker is a popular manufacturer of accessories for smartphones and laptops. However, the company has now recalled one of its power banks. These can overheat and pose a fire risk.
The issue affects the Anker Powerbank 535 (PowerCore 20K) A1366, which has a power output of 30 watts and can even charge laptops. The model is available in several colors. However, a manufacturing defect apparently causes the power bank to overheat and catch fire. Anker has therefore initiated a voluntary recall, as the company announced on Twitter, among other platforms.
How to Identify Affected Anker Power Banks
In the Twitter post, Anker refers to a specially created website where owners of the Powerbank 535 can find information about the recall and next steps. Whether a model is affected can be determined by the printed model number A1366 on the back of the power bank. Although Anker mentions only a small number of faulty models, users should not continue to use the power banks. However, they should not be disposed of in the trash or recycling bin. Instead, the manufacturer advises storing them in a safe place.
To receive a refund for the faulty Anker power bank, customers must fill out a form. Here, the manufacturer requests personal information such as name and address, as well as details about the device and its purchase date. Owners must also upload the receipt. For further questions about the recall process, Anker offers various contact options but advises contacting customer service via email with the subject “535 Power Bank Recall.”
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Eufy Cameras Also Facing Issues
Anker includes various sub-brands such as Eufy, which primarily offers products for home networking. However, it was recently revealed that the video transmissions of the security cameras were not fully encrypted. A security researcher pointed out the inadequate security of Eufy cameras back in November. According to him, the images were not stored locally on the device despite the settings, but were uploaded unencrypted to a server.
Anker initially dismissed the allegations as “speculative” but later acknowledged the issue. Last week, Anker admitted to the tech portal “The Verge” that Eufy security cameras uploaded videos to the cloud. The upload was unencrypted, but retrieval on the smartphone or website was encrypted. Anker plans to fix the issue with an update. Additionally, they intend to conduct a security check by external experts to rule out any further security gaps.