How safeguard my Mac's contents from unscrupulous 'repairmen'?

Question

Level 1

5 points

How safeguard my Mac's contents from unscrupulous 'repairmen'?

How should one safeguard, secure, protect their Mac, when they must take it in to a 'repairman' who may or may not be trustworthy?

What could they do to it that we should be aware of.

That's a general question.

but specifically I need to take my old iBook G-4 in to some repairman because it will not turn on. I'm not asking for solution to why it won't turn on. I know what they have to do to just get it to turn on. But i just need to know what could an unscrupulous repairman do to mess with a customers mac, and how can i prevent it?

Shouldnt we be concerned?

I'm thinking they might put some tracking device on it, or some mischief.

Thankyoueversomuch.

iBook G4 (Early 2004)

Posted on Jun 12, 2013 6:07 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

BDAqua

Level 10

239,495 points

Jun 12, 2013 11:37 PM in response to thelnukus

Hi, I doubt you need to worry, but there isn't much you can do othger then pulling the hard drive out first. 🙂

Reply

Answer 2

thelnukus Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 13, 2013 1:56 PM in response to BDAqua

Perhaps i should repost this question and delete the problem with my particular computer because it is distracting from my onlyest question:

How should one safeguard, secure, protect their Mac, when they must take it in to a 'repairman' who may or may not be trustworthy?

I like the answer, 'Don worry bou it'. As far as it goes. Bu i was hoping for something more to bolster my confidence. 🙂

Reply

Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

239,495 points

Jun 13, 2013 2:25 PM in response to thelnukus

Certainly feel free to post another query if you wish. 🙂

Well, there isn't much you could do about a tracking device, & wihout it starting, I see no other way to protect everything on the HDD without pulling it... unless you maybe already have Filevault setup on it.

Reply

Answer 4

Klaus1

Level 9

52,759 points

Jun 13, 2013 2:52 PM in response to thelnukus

1. Try to ensure he is trustworthy by only using an Apple Store or registered dealer for the repair.

2. Clone you entire hard drive to an external hard disk and delete all your personal stuff from your Mac before handing it in. When you get it back you can reload those files back again.

Reply

Answer 5

thelnukus Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 13, 2013 3:45 PM in response to Klaus1

I agree i should take it to a registered authorized Apple repair place. But even then, are my fears justified. Don't people worry about handing their computer over to a repairman whose character they can't be sure of? Oh well, i guess i'll jus havta risk it.

Thanky u both.

Reply