How do I destroy an old USB stick?

What is the best way to destroy an old USB stick without exposing sensitive data? USB sticks destruction seems simple, but effective and safe destruction requires more than just inflicting physical damage.

In this blog you will discover which methods really work, which are unsafe, and what you should pay attention to in the areas of GDPR compliance, data security and environmental friendliness – both as a private individual and as a company.

Shredding USB stick

Physical destruction, or shredding a USB stick with an industrial data shredder, is the most effective method. This method grinds sticks into ultra-fine particles, making data unrecoverable. There is simply nothing left of the data carrier, except waste. This method is used in almost all cases by a certified IT data destruction companyIt is fully GDPR compliant and suitable for companies that want certainty about the destruction of their data.

Erase or wipe USB stick

Using certified software, such as Blancco, can erase or wipe data on a USB stick. This is also called 'overwriting'. This method is suitable if the USB stick needs to be reused. It is important for companies that the erasure is carried out by a certified party and that an official certificate of data destruction is provided .

Destroy USB stick with hammer

Physically damaging a USB stick with a hammer may damage the casing, but the memory chip often remains (partly) intact. This may allow data to be recovered. For businesses this method is insufficient and not GDPR compliant. Individuals can try this but should protect themselves well with safety glasses and gloves for flying shards.

Degaussing USB stick

Degaussing, the demagnetization of storage media, is effective for magnetic media such as hard drives. However, USB sticks use flash memory and are not sensitive to magnetic fields, making this method ineffective. So degaussing a USB stick is not possible.

USB stick buried

Burying a USB stick may seem like a creative solution, but it doesn't make much sense. The data remains on the memory chip and can be recovered even years later under all kinds of weather conditions and moisture. Furthermore, it is not legally allowed to put electronic equipment in the ground. It is bad for the environment. And besides, others can (accidentally) dig up the stick.

Destroy USB stick with water

Immersing a USB stick in water can damage electronic components, but the memory chip often remains intact. Data can still be retrieved using specialized software. For companies, this method will never be GDPR compliant.

Burn USB stick

Burning a USB stick is dangerous and inefficient. The memory chip can withstand high temperatures, which means data remains partially intact. Moreover, it is harmful to the environment and dangerous to do yourself.

USB stick in microwave

Putting a USB stick in a microwave is downright dangerous. The metal parts can cause sparks, which can lead to a short circuit or even fire. Furthermore, microwaves do not reliably destroy data.

Return USB stick to recycling center

Returning a USB stick to the recycling center is a first step towards sustainable waste processing, but no guarantee of data destruction. Recycling centers recycle devices, but do not erase or destroy data. This means that data may end up on the street or at a thrift store.

Destroy USB stick with magnet

Using a magnet to destroy a USB stick is ineffective. USB sticks use flash memory, which is not sensitive to magnetic fields. This method does not guarantee that data will be irretrievably deleted.

Throw away USB stick

Throwing a USB stick in the trash is very unwise. The data remains intact and can easily be read by third parties. For companies, this is in conflict with the GDPR, and private individuals are also at risk of identity fraud.

Destroy USB stick with drill

Drilling the USB stick, especially the memory chip, can be more effective than using a hammer. Drilling multiple holes increases the chance of data loss. But it is also a dangerous job, because a USB stick is small and difficult to handle. It is advisable to first secure the stick with a clamp and then drill through.