Securing computer before repair

I need to bring in my computer for repair and need to get my credit card information off of it and make sure they can’t sign into my accounts. What do I do?

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 12.6

Posted on Jun 25, 2024 9:55 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 25, 2024 10:03 AM

They can't sign into your accounts unless you give them the passwords.


The most cautious approach would be to clone your drive to an external drive then wipe all of your personal data from the Mac before sending it in.


See also:


Get your Mac ready for service - Apple Support

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support


3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 25, 2024 10:03 AM in response to leigh-an

They can't sign into your accounts unless you give them the passwords.


The most cautious approach would be to clone your drive to an external drive then wipe all of your personal data from the Mac before sending it in.


See also:


Get your Mac ready for service - Apple Support

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support


Jun 25, 2024 10:31 AM in response to leigh-an

Re: sensitive information:


I have a somewhat different attitude about this than it seems most folks have. My attitude is that ANYTHING you commit to computer-readable form may become public.


So I do not commit to written form like emails, things I do not want others to hear, and I do not enter my credit card numbers such that they are stored on my computer, EVER. The downside is that when I pay bills, or order online, I sometimes have to type credit card numbers -- typically a few times a month.


Should someone steal my computer, they are not getting my credit card numbers. My credit card numbers are not ON my computer.

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Securing computer before repair

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