Wipe, Overwrite, or Destroy: Safe Ways to Handle Old USB Drives
Deleting files from old USB drives isn’t enough; you should fully format the drive to overwrite existing data, and for extra assurance you can use third‑party tools that perform overwrite passes. If you’re discarding drives with highly sensitive data, physical destruction is the safest option. Cornell IT security recommends three overwrites for recycling and physical destruction for disposal. Windows and Mac both offer built‑in formatting tools, and there are additional tips for securely wiping drives before recycling or disposal.