How do I permanently delete a USB storage drive?

Question

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Zeroing SSD drives

I have an external flash drive that I want to get rid off. I've deleted & formatted it from within Windows but I want to make sure no one can get to the data. Are there any tools I can run to make sure no data is recoverable from the drive?

Thanks!

score 2 · Answer 1 · edited Mar 28 '12 at 19:30

2

The best way to make sure no one can read it is by burning it.

If that's too drastic use Fileshredder or SDelete to shred your flashdrive.

edited Mar 28 '12 at 19:30

the-wabbit

41,352

answered Mar 28 '12 at 18:54

Lucas Kauffman

16,990

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 28 '12 at 19:02

0

Can't go wrong with a BFH before the fire.

answered Mar 28 '12 at 19:02

Chadddada

1,710

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 28 '12 at 19:04

If you don't need to use it, yes, burn or smash it with a hammer. Otherwise you can also boot up a ubuntu livecd, install wipe, and wipe the usb clean. This assumes that your OS is not linux. If it is linux to start with, wipe can usually be found for your distro.

I found this one for windows, but have not tried it. http://www.diskwipe.org/

score 0 · Answer 4 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:14

I have an external flash drive that I want to get rid off....Are there any tools I can run to make sure no data is recoverable from the drive?

Yes: A hammer. Or a blow torch. Or both.

Flash drives employ wear leveling and other techniques that make it extraordinarily difficult to encure that they have been properly erased. The only truly secure solution is complete physical destruction of the chips.

See also the question Zoredache pointed to in his comment and various topics over on Security.stackexchange.com regarding erasing solid-state media (flash drives).

How do I permanently delete a USB storage drive?

4 Answers4