Back in the day everyone used to transfer files through USB flash drives, but now there are so many cloud services. Is a flash drive still a safe way, or is it better not to risk it and use the cloud instead? What bothers me is that a flash drive could be infected with a virus.
A physical USB stick remains a perfectly functional tool if you use it properly :) A virus won't just stick to it out of nowhere - you need to connect an infected device or get it from someone who's already infected it. If you're transferring files between your own devices or trusted people, the risk is minimal. Running an antivirus check before using it is a simple precaution that takes a couple of minutes.
But there's a catch that people usually overlook: a USB stick can easily get lost or stolen, and it might contain sensitive data. Cloud storage is safer in that sense - even if someone hacks your account, all the downloaded files stay online and you can recover them. Lose your stick, and that's it - your data could fall into the wrong hands with no way to get it back.
So it really depends on the situation: if you need to quickly hand over a file to someone nearby, a USB stick is more convenient. If you need reliability and recovery options, cloud storage is definitely better. A lot of people just use both methods depending on the circumstances :)
USB drives and cloud storage are different tools for different situations, not competitors! Cloud is more convenient for syncing and accessing files from anywhere, but USB drives win when you need complete offline independence, don't have internet, or you're handing data to someone in person. About viruses: there's always some risk, but USB drives aren't more dangerous than any other storage medium - the main thing is to scan the files with antivirus before opening them afterward. I'd recommend keeping both options in your toolkit!
The question isn't quite on topic - a flash drive isn't inherently unsafe, the danger is in plugging it into someone else's computer or getting one from an untrusted source, while cloud storage is a completely different thing (your data sits on third-party servers, which has its own risks). If you're transferring files between your own devices or with someone you trust, a flash drive works great and doesn't need internet, no red flags.
The main thing is not to be scared of the flash drive itself, but to use it properly: only transfer files from trusted devices and scan them with antivirus before use. In practice, a flash drive is still convenient for "one-off" transfers when you just need to hand something to someone or work without internet, while cloud storage is better for syncing and constant access.
Life hack: if you're worried about security, use the flash drive just as a "courier" - don't save important data on it long-term, just pass the file along and wipe it clean. That way the risk is minimal, and you're not creating a permanent storage of potentially vulnerable files.
For most situations, cloud storage works better, but there's a nuance people forget about: if you have unstable internet or you're transferring files somewhere with poor signal, a flash drive becomes your lifesaver. A flash drive is also useful when you need to transfer something sensitive and you want to be absolutely sure it won't end up on someone else's servers. As for viruses - the risk is real only if you plug a flash drive into public computers or take one from strangers, but a lot of people miss the main point: even if the flash drive is clean, it can pick up a virus from the computer you plug it into, and then infect other devices. So before using it, you should scan the flash drive with antivirus software if its source is at least somewhat questionable.
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