In recent weeks, a wave of concern has swept through the tech community regarding potential issues arising from the latest Windows 11 updates, specifically KB5063878 and KB5062660. Reports circulated on social media platforms, particularly among tech influencers on YouTube and TikTok, suggesting that these updates were linked to failures in SSDs equipped with Phison controllers. Claims of corrupted data and disappearing drives quickly gained traction, leading many to point fingers at Microsoft.
However, both Microsoft and Phison have taken a measured approach in response to these allegations. Phison, upon receiving reports of the supposed failures on August 18th, initiated a thorough investigation. By August 27th, the company released a statement indicating that after conducting over 2,200 test cycles, which accumulated more than 4,500 hours of testing, they were unable to replicate the reported issues. Furthermore, they noted that no partners or customers had reported experiencing drive failures linked to the updates.
Microsoft echoed these findings shortly thereafter, asserting that their investigations revealed no connection between the August 2025 Windows security update and the hard drive failures discussed on social media. This response is not entirely unexpected, given that the initial reports appeared to be limited in scope. The first mention of the issue seems to have originated from a user on Twitter in Japan, with a handful of commenters sharing similar experiences. However, the evidence supporting a widespread problem remains scant, suggesting that the situation may be more localized, potentially stemming from a defective batch of drives.
As it stands, the consensus among both companies indicates that users need not worry about the August 2025 Windows security update causing damage to their hard drives, despite the sensational claims circulating online. In an age where information spreads rapidly, it’s crucial for consumers to discern between anecdotal reports and verified facts.