CBL Data Shredder vs east-tec DisposeSecure

CBL Data Shredder is a free utility for erasing hard-drive contents so existing and future software-based recovery tools cannot retrieve them. It overwrites the entire disk with bit patterns, with methods using different numbers of passes. Users can choose a pattern and pass count; the default is one pass of “00”. The program implements a described US Department of Defense 5220.22-M method using three passes with different patterns, and also lists VSITR, Bruce Schneier, Peter Gutmann, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police DSX methods. Its Peter Gutmann implementation makes 35 passes. The Windows version functions exclusively on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10. DOS packages are available as a floppy disk maker, a bootable CD-ROM ISO, and a USB flash drive creator; the USB creator requires Windows 7 or later. The free download requires submitting a name and email address, and downloading means agreeing to the licensing conditions. The product warns that modern-drive features may leave some areas inaccessible to the software and vulnerable to hardware-based recovery. Its DSX method alone is not approved for sanitizing classified information, and current standards require physical destruction afterward.

east-tec DisposeSecure erases hard drives, selected partitions and connected external drives before computers are resold, donated or retired. The maker says its wiping methods meet and exceed the U.S. Department of Defense 5220.22-M disk-sanitizing standard, as well as other military, government and industrial standards. It can start from USB, CD, DVD, floppy or a local network, so erasure can run independently of the computer’s operating system. A Windows module handles detected non-system drives and partitions, including USB drives, memory cards and optical media. Over a local network, it can wipe multiple computers and send reports to a server; reports can also be saved locally for auditing or recordkeeping. The DisposeSecure Plan covers up to 10 PCs and includes one year of free updates and support. A fully functional 15-day trial is offered at no cost or obligation. Listed plan prices are $29.50 a month and $29.50 a year. For bootable disk use, the download page lists support for hard drives up to 1 TB.