Magsafe connectors aren't inherently safe - all the contacts are exposed, creating a short-circuit and fire risk. Apple solves this by only supplying power when

Magsafe connectors aren't inherently safe - all the contacts are exposed, creating a short-circuit and fire risk. Apple solves this by only supplying power when the cable is plugged into a laptop. Counterfeit adapters don't bother with the additional safety circuitry. If you were to poke the MagSafe end of a counterfeit charger into a wad of steel wool, you'd have a lot of sparks, and a good demonstration of why they're dangerous. As for why counterfeits exist... basic economics. Third party Magsafe adapters don't exist, due to Apple's legal stranglehold on the concept of a magnetically attached electrical cable. In a field void of competition, unscrupulous electronics manufacturers see a huge upside, and here you see the result.