Checking USB flash drives and flash memory cards for correct functionality
Reset
Because the tested disk is completely filled by the F3 write test as described previously, you need to delete the existing files to use the medium for your own data again. This step can easily be done in a file manager.
Reconstruction
In overwriting the entire storage medium, F3 performs another useful task in passing – secure deletion of old files. Existing sets of old data can no longer be reconstructed after write testing the medium with F3. The 1GB files that F3 creates are filled with meaningless strings. Although you can recover them with forensic tools such as PhotoRec, you cannot access the user data originally stored on the disk. Therefore, F3 can also be used to get rid of sensitive personal data on flash memory cards or USB sticks that you want to sell, for example.
Conclusions
F3 is a tool that should be in place on the computer of any user who cares about the integrity of their flash memory media. This small command-line program not only tests various flash memory devices reliably but, when used properly, also overwrites existing legacy data, giving users a dependable way to prevent their data from being restored. The software takes up very little space on your hard drive, and its use is self-explanatory; even users who are not familiar with the technology of flash media will be able to cope with the application.
Infos
- F3: http://oss.digirati.com.br/f3/
- f3write and f3read: http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/trusty/man1/f3read.1.html
- Intenso stick: http://www.intenso.de/kategorie_en.php?kategorie=23
« Previous 1 2
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
AlmaLinux 10.0 Beta Released
The AlmaLinux OS Foundation has announced the availability of AlmaLinux 10.0 Beta ("Purple Lion") for all supported devices with significant changes.
-
Gnome 47.2 Now Available
Gnome 47.2 is now available for general use but don't expect much in the way of newness, as this is all about improvements and bug fixes.
-
Latest Cinnamon Desktop Releases with a Bold New Look
Just in time for the holidays, the developer of the Cinnamon desktop has shipped a new release to help spice up your eggnog with new features and a new look.
-
Armbian 24.11 Released with Expanded Hardware Support
If you've been waiting for Armbian to support OrangePi 5 Max and Radxa ROCK 5B+, the wait is over.
-
SUSE Renames Several Products for Better Name Recognition
SUSE has been a very powerful player in the European market, but it knows it must branch out to gain serious traction. Will a name change do the trick?
-
ESET Discovers New Linux Malware
WolfsBane is an all-in-one malware that has hit the Linux operating system and includes a dropper, a launcher, and a backdoor.
-
New Linux Kernel Patch Allows Forcing a CPU Mitigation
Even when CPU mitigations can consume precious CPU cycles, it might not be a bad idea to allow users to enable them, even if your machine isn't vulnerable.
-
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.5 Released
Notify your friends, loved ones, and colleagues that the latest version of RHEL is available with plenty of enhancements.
-
Linux Sees Massive Performance Increase from a Single Line of Code
With one line of code, Intel was able to increase the performance of the Linux kernel by 4,000 percent.
-
Fedora KDE Approved as an Official Spin
If you prefer the Plasma desktop environment and the Fedora distribution, you're in luck because there's now an official spin that is listed on the same level as the Fedora Workstation edition.