The best way to permanently delete files from a usb flash drive

Permanently deleting files from flash drive requires a more aggressive approach than simply deleting them or formatting.  There's no foolproof method, but some techniques are more effective than others.  Be extremely cautious, as any data recovery attempt, even seemingly unsuccessful, could potentially recover your data.

Important Considerations:

• No guarantee:  Even with the most aggressive methods, there's always a potential for data recovery, especially with modern file recovery tools.  The longer the data is overwritten, the less likely it is to be recovered.
• Backup: Before attempting any data wiping method, back up any data you don't want to lose.
  Verification:  After wiping, consider using a professional data recovery service to test the drive's contents.  This isn't a guarantee, but it's a way to assess the success of the procedure.

Methods to permanently delete files from flash drive

* Overwriting (multiple passes):  This is the most reliable method.  Tools that do this repeatedly write random data over the deleted files.  The more passes, the better.

* Tools: Several free command-line tools can perform overwriting. shred (Linux/macOS) and sdelete (Windows) are good examples. These often use multiple passes and different patterns to make data recovery harder.
* Caution: Using these tools requires careful understanding of command-line use and ensuring you target the correct drive. Mistakes can be disastrous.