CBL Data Shredder
The facts below are what the maker publishes about CBL Data Shredder, checked and dated. Our editors have not written about it yet.
Plans and prices
From CBL Data Shredder's own pricing page, checked 20 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Complete low-level hard-drive formatting · Customizable wipe methods · Government-level wiping of drive sectors |
| Freeware | Free | Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10; DOS packages include floppy disk maker, bootable CD-ROM ISO, and USB creator; USB creator requires Windows 7 or later · Free download |
The facts
Each one read from CBL Data Shredder's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Custom erase method
- Users can choose a bit pattern and number of passes; the default is one pass of the pattern “00”.checked 8 Oct 2026
- DoD method
- The program implements the described US Department of Defense 5220.22-M method using three passes with a different bit pattern on each pass.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Download process
- The download page asks users to submit their name and email address to get the free download.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Drive limitation
- The product page warns that modern-drive features may leave some disk areas inaccessible to the software and vulnerable to hardware-based recovery.checked 8 Oct 2026
- DSX caveat
- The page says DSX alone is not approved by the Canadian government for sanitizing classified information and that current standards require physical destruction afterward.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Gutmann pass count
- The Peter Gutmann method implemented by the program makes 35 overwrite passes.checked 8 Oct 2026
- How it works
- The program overwrites the entire disk with bit patterns, and supports methods with different numbers of passes.checked 8 Oct 2026
- License
- Downloading the software constitutes agreement to the CBL Data Shredder licensing conditions.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Other erase methods
- The program also describes VSITR, Bruce Schneier, Peter Gutmann, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police DSX erase methods.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- CBL Data Shredder is intended to erase hard-drive contents so existing and future software-based recovery tools cannot retrieve them.checked 8 Oct 2026
- USB creator requirement
- The USB creator requires Windows 7 or later.checked 8 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- DOS packages
- DOS packages are available as a floppy disk maker, a burnable CD-ROM ISO, and a USB flash drive creator.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Windows compatibility
- The download page says the Windows version functions exclusively on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10.checked 8 Oct 2026
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