How to format a USB drive safely?

Hi,

I searched in many web pages and I learned that secure formatting (DoD, NSA, Gutman, etc...) doesn't works with USB drives. Is it true?

So, how can I secure delete a USB drive preventing a recovery data? What software I need?

I searched in web and I found the correct way:

1º) Install Eraser 6 or above:
Link: Eraser :: Downloads

2º) VERY IMPORTANT STEP: Delete all data in USB device with DELETE key or FORMAT it with the Windows Explorer! The USB device need to be completely empty.

3º) Run Eraser 6 as Administrator (very important for Windows Vista/7 users). Right-click mouse and choose "Run as administrator".


4º) Choose the options below:

1 - Create a "New Task"


2 - Choose "Run immediately" and click in "Add Data"


3 - Choose the "Erasure Method" (the correct option is "Pseudorandom Data 1 Pass" - only 1 pass. For more detail see reference (*)) and check "Unused disk space", then select the USB drive. Check "Erase cluster tips".


4 - Click "Ok" and the erase will be run immediately!


5 - During the task, all unused bytes in USB device will be overwritten by random data! Only 1 pass is necessary (*).


(*) Reference: Heidi Computers Ltd Support - View topic - Erasing USB key Drives (for understand I recommend the read all topics)

CCleaner also has the option of a secure wipe of a drive. You can choose only free space or wipe the entire drive.
Did Eraser6 wipe the entire drive or only free space? Your snip shows only unused space being overwritten.

In CCLeaner Options/settings where do you have the overwrite settings? It has the options od 1,3,7, or 35 passes. for A USB flash drive, 1 pass should be enough.:)

Britton30 said:

In CCLeaner Options/settings where do you have the overwrite settings? It has the options od 1,3,7, or 35 passes. for A USB flash drive, 1 pass should be enough.:)

i agree with britton, i done that probably hundred times already. in the office we had to secure our files as not to be retrieved by any undelete/recovery software. 1 pass is enough. :)

How long did CCleaner take in actuality? Many program give an estimate which is high then completes in a much shorter time. I trust CCleaner to do a good job, if a program says it wipes and takes a few seconds, not so trustworthy. A wipe is CPU-intensive too and will be slower with other programs running at the same time.