How to Wipe USB Flash Drive - A Complete Process (2024)

The staggering scenario of cybersecurity threats calls for data security whenever you dispose of these drives or want to resell them. So, in this guide, we will look at what a USB Flash Drive is and how to wipe a USB flash drive using diverse methods.

In the current digital scenario, everyone desires to safeguard their confidential data. In today’s world, where cybersecurity threats are increasing quickly, we should take sincere steps to protect our data. Many tech geeks undermine the importance of USB Flash Drives in posing a serious threat to data confidentiality. According to a study, almost 68 per cent of these USB Drives that are resold contain confidential data from their previous owner.

What is a USB Flash Drive?

A USB Flash Drive is a popular storage device known by various names, such as Thumb Drives, Flash Drives, Jump Drives, Keychain Drives, and many more. It is a popular external hard drive that uses flash memory to store data. These drives are available in various shapes and sizes.

Top 3 Reasons to Wipe USB Flash Drive

• To prevent the misuse of Data

Hackers can easily misuse the confidential information stored in your flash drive, such as your name and address. Therefore, remedial actions are essential to prevent these cyber threats.

• Risk of Non-Compliance

Every country has rules and regulations regarding the safety of client data and the prevention of malicious attacks and other cyber threats. Failure to comply with these rules and regulations can seriously threaten security.

Therefore, companies should take specific measures like data encryption and access control. For example, even employees can use USB flash drives to misplace sensitive information. Learning how to wipe USB Flash Drives is strictly advisable to prevent such scenarios.

• Concerns Regarding Public Access Points

We knowingly or unknowingly hand over our security information to others. Let’s take a cue: If you are travelling and your phone’s battery is low, you will plug your device into any other public access point, which will lead to the transfer of your confidential information to hackers. You should learn how to format USB to prevent all the security concerns.

How to Wipe USB Flash Drive- Different Methods

You may be thinking about how to wipe USB flash drive. In the world of technology, where innovations rule, we can easily find diverse methods of wiping USB Flash Drives. Let’s check them out.

File Explorer Method

Ensure that you take all the steps below.

1. Go to File Explorer on Windows 10.
2. You will see an option for this PC from the left pane; click on it.
3. Go to the drives and device section, right-click on the USB flash drive, and select the format option.

Use Disk Management to Wipe USB Flash Drive

If you are wondering how to wipe USB Flash Drive on Windows 10, check out the steps via the disk management tool.

1. Go to start and look for "create and format hard disk partitions".
2. Now, click on the top to open the Disk Management App.
3. Right-click on the flash drive. Click on the format option.
4. Search the volume label field and identify the storage in File Explorer by giving it a name.
5. Go to the file system drop-down menu and select the NTFS option.
6. You will now see a default option in the allocation unit size drop-down menu.
7. Now, click on "perform a quick format" option.
8. Congratulations! You have cleaned your USB flash drive using the Disk Management tool.

How to Erase USB Drive on Mac?

Do you want to learn how to wipe a USB Flash Drive in Mac OS? A few simple steps exist to perform a USB flash drive format drive on a Mac.

If you want to wipe all the data on a USB flash drive in Mac OS, remember to connect it to a USB port.

1. Find the Finder option and then select it.
2. Go to applications, and then find utilities.
3. Select Disk Utility.
4. You will see a list on the left side; select the drive option from it.
5. Now, select the erase option.
6. You should give the driver a name, and to proceed further, select the EXFAT option.
7. Select Erase at the bottom.
8. If you see any other confirmation pop up, select erase again.

With these steps, you have learned how to wipe USB Flash Drive on Mac OS.

How Can Data Wipe Software Help Us?

If you want to stay current with technology and learn how to wipe a USB flash drive, some professional solutions can help. BitRecover BitWipe Data Wipe Software solution is your go-to resource for formatting a USB flash drive.

BitWipe Data Wipe Software- Key Specialities

BitRecover BitWipe Data Wipe Software is compatible with different media ports and devices. You can easily use it in different disk drives such as HDD, SDD, Flash Drive, USB, NVme, PCI, and others. Here is how to use BitRecover BitWipe Software.

1. Run BitRecover Data Wipe Software on your computer.
2. Choose a USB flash drive to wipe the data.
3. Apply data filters now, and select the required filters that are required.
4. Now, press the wipe button to start the data destruction process.

With these easy steps, you can use this software to erase data and safeguard your organisation from hackers' harmful, malicious activities. Contact us to learn more.

To Sum Up

We hope you are now clear about how to use a USB Flash Drive. After considering the safety hazards, it is essential to format your flash drive before reselling or disposing of it. Otherwise, you will succumb to many harmful threats, which can be formidable to your reputation as an individual, organisation, or entity. These methods are related to wiping out the flash drive which will help you to get an answer to the safety risk.