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

There can be some risks involved when you're permanently deleting files from flash drive, especially if you're not careful.

1. Accidental Deletion: Sometimes, you might accidentally delete important files or delete from the wrong drive. It’s easy to click the wrong thing if you're not paying attention.
2. Data Recovery: If you just delete files normally, they can often be recovered with recovery tools unless you do a secure wipe. So, if you're trying to make sure no one can get your data back, just deleting isn't enough.
3. Drive Damage: Using aggressive secure wipe tools or repeatedly overwriting data can, in rare cases, cause wear or damage to a cheap or older USB drive. USBs have limited write cycles, so overdoing it might shorten their lifespan.
4. Data Loss: If you don’t back up important files before deleting, you might lose stuff permanently—be sure you really want to delete what you're deleting!

Always double-check which drive you're working on and back up anything important before permanently delete files from flash drive. And if you're worried about privacy, go for a proper secure delete or format with overwriting.