Why you should not store files on your flash drive for a long time

Flash drives have definitely become indispensable in our digital life. They are convenient for quickly transferring files from one device to another, and we all use them every day. But here's what I noticed — flash drives are not the best option for long-term storage of important files. And here's why.

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First of all, memory on flash drives is not eternal. They work on NAND memory technology, where data is stored in special cells charged electrically. Over time, this charge weakens, and files may become inaccessible. Even if you store the flash drive in perfect conditions, after a few years it can lose data. And it is, frankly, very unpleasant when you discover that there is nothing left on the flash drive.

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Also, flash drives have a limited resource. Each memory cell can withstand only a certain number of write and erase cycles. If you use the drive often, this resource will be exhausted, and the flash drive may simply fail, and the data will disappear. And this is even without taking into account physical damage.

By the way, flash drives are quite vulnerable to mechanical damage due to their compactness. You know how it is: you don't have time on the spot, you let it in — and that's it, the flash drive can break or lose data. And even something as simple as moisture can ruin a flash drive, so you have to be careful.

There is one more problem — electromagnetic fields. They can damage the data on the flash drive, and even important information can be left without warning.

My conclusion: flash drives — it is an ideal option for temporary storage and transfer of files. But when it comes to long-term storage of important data, it is better to choose something more reliable, like a hard drive or cloud storage. And, of course, don't forget about backups. From time to time, you should check the flash drives and, if necessary, update them to prevent the data from “deteriorating”.