Wipe Usb Drive

When we talk about erasing data from any storage media, we often refer to formatting or deleting the files and folders from the storage media. However, data erasure essentially refers to deletion of data via overwriting with a pattern of 0s and 1s whereas, no overwriting is performed when you format or delete a drive or file. Overwriting the data destroys it permanently from the storage media. There are two ways in which one can permanently delete data from a USB Flash drive, namely by—

When it's time to wipe a drive so you can sell or donate it to somebody else, flash drives impose complications that hard drives don't. The safest way to wipe your data is actually to encrypt. In the screenshot below, the drive is formatted with the exFAT file system. How to Format a Drive on a Mac. If you want to use a different file system on your USB drive, you'll need to 'format' it. Again, formatting a drive will erase it completely, so make sure you have everything backed up that you want to keep. To format a drive on a. Erase USB Flash Drive This is a mode for completely wiping data on your USB Flash Drive. To select this, just select the drive you want to format and click Erase, then all data will be erased instantly. Connect the USB Flash Drive to your laptop.

1. Erasing Individual or Selected files and folders
2. Wiping off an entire storage drive with a data erasure algorithm

Wiping is same as date erasure, but is done on a wider scale. When we say wipe, it refers to erasing the entire partition or disk volume, and not just one or two files. Wiping erases everything from the storage media permanently. It also erases previously deleted data, making its recovery impossible.

To erase or permanently deleted data from USB Flash drive, you can use the following methods:

1. A Data Erasure Tool (To be brought on top)

Using CMD for data erasure is a bit tricky and you may accidentally end up deleting crucial files and folders (via typos). Therefore, use a secure data erasure software like BitRaser File Eraser, which lets you wipe the entire drive with the help of 3 international data erasure algorithms (selected one at a time) such as DoD 5220.22-M

Follow these steps to erase your USB drive with BitRaser File Eraser software:

• Download, Install and run BitRaser File Eraser after connecting your USB drive to the PC

• Go to ‘Settings'. Select the data erasure algorithm and verification method from the respective dropdowns
• Go to Home and then click Erase Deleted Data
• On the next screen, connected volumes and drive are displayed.
• Select the USB drive to erase all contents of your USB drive in one go
• If you are looking to erase only specific files/folders from your USB drive, follow the steps below
• Click ‘Erase Files and Folders and on the next screen, click on Add items button
• From the list, select the USB drive and expand it to select the specific file(s)
• After you've made the selection, click on Erase Now button.

1. Use Command Prompt

Through command prompt, you can either wipe the entire drive or choose to erase individual files and folders beyond recovery in two different ways.

You can use Cipher command or SDelete utility from Microsoft that runs through CMD. Cipher wipes only the free or empty storage space while SDelete lets you wipe an entire volume and individual files or folders with DoD 5220.22-M data erasure standard.

a. Use Cipher to wipe free storage space on USB Drive

The cipher is mainly used for encryption (NTFS) but it can also be used through the command line to erase previously deleted and recoverable files and folders:

• Connect USB drive and type following command in the CMD assuming E: is the USB drive letter
  Cipher /w:E: and press Enter
• Let it wipe your USB drive's empty storage once with a series of 0's (zero) then with a series of 255's and finally once again with a series of random numbers

b. Use SDelete to Erase Data from USB Flash Drive

SDelete is a small utility that works via command line and uses the DoD data erasure algorithm to destroy data present on USB flash drives. Follow below-mentioned steps to use SDelete for deleting data from USB Flash drive and as a disk wiping tool:

• Download the SDelete (151 KB) program file from Microsoft's official website
• Place it on the Desktop and then connect your USB flash drive
• Assuming USB drive letter is E:, type the following command in the terminal followed by the ‘Enter' key
  sdelete –p 5 E:
  This command will erase all files from the E: drive with 5 passes of DoD algorithm. The passes are defined with –p parameter and you can choose n number of passes as per your choice
• To wipe a specific or individual file, replace E:* with E:FILE_NAME
• To delete a directory, type sdelete –s –p 5 E:FOLDER_NAME

1. Encrypt Drive or Data

Encryption is a great tool to safeguard data from unauthorized access and for data destruction. Data erasure tools including command line and software-based erasure methods cannot destroy data from NAND flash-based storages i.e. SSDs. The only way to secure data and sanitize data in SSD is encryption. By deleting the encryption key, the data cannot be accessed which is equivalent to data destruction.

The same process can be used for deleting data from USB Flash drive.

For encryption, you can use BitLocker or similar encryption tools in Windows to protect and destroy your data.

Conclusion

To permanently delete data from USB Flash drive or other flash storages and hard drives, use a reliable data erasure software such as ‘BitRaser File Eraser', as mentioned in this blog post. This erasure software is safe to use and helps you sanitize data from all kinds of storage media. Besides, the software also works as a privacy safeguarding tool and helps destroy confidential user data that's stored in the form of internet activities, system traces, and application traces.

You may also use the command prompt or encryption method to destroy and safeguard your data. However, the aforesaid methods require some level of technical knowledge of computing and thus, not recommended for all users.

July 13, 2020

You want to donate or recycle your old computer gear, but there's something you have to do first — wipe your hard drive. That means clearing out all your personal information.

You may think that's not a lot of stuff, but your old devices probably hold a ton of information. Your medical records, browser history, login info for your bank account, past emails — all that information about you that accumulates on a device.

It's not enough to simply delete old files. Why? The delete button doesn't actually delete.

Your personal information will be retrievable on a computer's hard drive unless you take steps to wipe the hard drive clean. If you don't, the files are there for the taking. Anyone with recovery software and bad intentions could access them and put your privacy and the security of your personal information at risk.

How to completely wipe a hard drive

Follow these steps to ensure you're truly wiping your hard drive clean. They'll help keep you from passing on or losing your documents, photos, passwords, financial information, and personal data when you say goodbye to your old device.

Step 1: Back up your hard-drive data

Before you wipe your computer's hard drive or do a factory reset, make sure to back up all of your information to your new computer, an external hard drive, or a web service.

Backing up your data regularly is a smart way to keep your data safe. Hard drives can crash, get lost, stolen, or encrypted by ransomware software. The best defense is to make sure all the data is backed up safely and frequently.

You can back up your data on thumb drives or USB flash drives. But keep in mind these are small storage devices and may not accommodate all the data from your PC. External hard drives can offer more storage. You can also transfer your data to another laptop or PC.

'Cloud backs' are another option. They're safe and one of the most convenient ways to store data. Here's how it works.

First, you create an account and complete the initial setup. Next, you enable the storage of your data to the cloud — a network of remote servers. There's no physical location for the backed-up data. So the risk of it getting stolen or destroyed by things like floods or fires is mitigated. Plus, the files are encrypted. That makes it difficult for cybercriminals to access or steal your information.

The importance of data backup

It's a good idea to make backing up data a part of your cyber hygiene. If you happen to lose your data due to a hardware defect or ransomware attack, having a backup could be the respite you're looking for.

Step 2: Don't just delete files from your computer

You might think moving your documents to the trash or recycle bin and emptying it will do the trick. Maybe not. This action appears to delete the files, but often leaves them where they were, hidden from view. Most data recovery programs can actually recover these hidden files.

Here's why. When you empty files from the trash or recycle bin, the file name or the reference to the deleted file is erased. The computer can no longer see the file.

This means the space the file took up on the laptop or PC is no longer reserved for that file. But the file is still in the hard drive. It will stay in the hard drive until its location is given up for a new file to be stored in that exact location.

Data recovery software is capable of rebuilding the file header. This makes it possible for the computer to see the file again.

Here's the risk. When your files are not deleted completely from the hard drive, cybercriminals can run data recovery software to access your deleted files.

Law enforcement agencies use data recovery software to access deleted files from confiscated computers. Cybercriminals can use the same tools and techniques to commit identity theft.

Step 3: Use a program to wipe your drive

Special software programs can permanently erase your hard drive. There's little chance you can get any data back. Similarly, no one else will be able to use data recovery software to recover your files.

Most programs run a low-level format that overwrites all the deleted files with zeros and other incomprehensible data. This makes it impossible for data recovery software to recover the files.

DBAN is a free data destruction program* that completely erases files on a hard drive. This includes all personal files, operating systems, and installed programs.

It's smart to use a program to wipe your device. Most products offer proof of erasure. Some even provide information about what was done to the drive and its data. This helps when wiping a company laptop or PC.

Step 4: Physically wipe your hard drive

If you want to double-ensure your hard drive is wiped, you can take additional measures. For instance, you can physically wipe the drive. Just remove your hard drive and take a rare earth magnet to it. Another option? Physically dismantle it with a screwdriver.

Wipe Usb Drive Windows 10

A rare earth magnet, like the neodymium magnet, can be used to deform the metal plates in the hard disk. This makes it unusable. One warning: The magnets are powerful and can cause physical harm if used incorrectly.

A safer method might be using a screwdriver to dismantle the pieces of the hard drive to make it useless.

Step 5: Do a fresh installation of the operating system

There's another way to completely rewrite over the whole hard drive. That's by completing a clean installation of the original operating system that came with the computer. This can be especially important if you're giving the device to someone like a friend or family member.

What are the risks of not wiping my hard drive?

As the line between the real world and digital world blurs, it's smart to understand how cybercriminals work. A security product like Norton Security Premium helps protect your personal PC files, financial information and your family's devices. But when you discard your device without properly wiping the hard drive, you run the risk of losing your data.

Cybercriminals value your personal data — such as your email address, passwords, Social Security number, driver's license details, and credit card information. They could sell the information on the dark web.

Cybercriminals can buy the information and launch cyberattacks to commit other kinds of crimes like identity theft and extortion. They could open bank accounts in your name, purchase items with your credit card information, or take out loans and default on them, leaving you with the consequences.

Thieves also look for private and confidential information. This may include non-disclosure agreements, personal photographs, private chat conversations, and other details you may not want to expose. If a hard drive wasn't wiped clean, cybercriminals could retrieve this information to blackmail the owner of the content.

Types of data deletion

No matter what kind of data you had on your computer before you decided to donate or recycle it, it pays to play it safe.

Remember, deleting your files from the recycle bin or trash doesn't mean the file is gone from your device. It only means its location is available. Data recovery software can easily find those files in your hard drive.

Here are a few ways to wipe your hard drive like the pros and avoid the risk of someone accessing your old data.

Linux Wipe Usb Drive

1. DBAN

Short for Darik's Boot and Nuke, DBAN* uses a random number generator that wipes and overwrites everything on the drive several times. Every file that has been deleted now has the new number assigned to it. This makes it impossible for data recovery tools to access it. This tool is useful if you plan to sell, donate, or recycle your computer or laptop.

2. Destroy the hard drive

A sure way to completely destroy the hard drive is to make it physically impossible to access the disks. This can be done by dismantling the pieces of the hard disk with a screwdriver and using a hammer to scratch and mangle the disk. The goal is to make sure the disk will not work when it is loaded into another hard drive. A powerful rare earth magnet can also be used to destroy the platter in the hard drive.

How Norton Utilities can help wipe your hard drive

Your PC is likely packed with personal files. It's wise to keep all that information secure and private. Norton Utilities is a handy tool that keeps your PC running like new. It fixes common issues that slow down or crash your PC. It also frees up space by finding duplicate files and unused applications.

It's commonplace to store personal files on your PC. Now it's easy to keep your digital life private. Safely dispose of personal documents, so no one can access them. Think of it as a digital shredder. Norton Utilities helps keep what you do on your computer private. It can permanently erase all record of your computer and web-based activities to help protect your privacy.

How To Wipe Usb Drive On Mac

It also safely disposes of personal documents permanently and renders them inaccessible. Most of all, it maintains your digital privacy by erasing your recently opened files and website browsing history.

Usb Eraser For Windows 10

There's a lot you can do to help protect your personal information if you take the right steps before disposing of your old computer.

Disclaimers and references:

* The inclusion of websites, links, or programs here does not imply endorsement or support of any companies, materials, products and/or providers listed herein.

Completely Wipe Usb Drive Windows

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