Apple Wants Admin Password for Screen Repair???

I do have backups running constantly in the background and a wiped drive would not kill me.

The FAR bigger issue for me is that as I was responding (first chat, then phone) to the standard list of: mailing address, phone number... came the question: "Admin acct name and password?" It was clearly just on the checklist of question we ask everyone.

I know that Apple can crack a computer if they want to. And I'm willing to trust Apple to not take the time to hack my specific machine while in the repair center.

And I certainly heard their explanation that the need admin access to "test the repair." I just can't believe that a company like Apple hasn't built a system into their OS and standard repair workflow that can effectively test a repair without requiring full admin access. (A bit stunned Apple would even ask for passwords via chat!)

Apple has to know that the average person keeps tons of deeply personal information on their computers and doesn't password protect the specific folders. It is irresponsible of them to need such complete access for repair testing. After all, they can update my software securely with validated keys that prove to my devices the apps are coming from Apple. They can't have a repair testing system that's similar - recognized by my device as authentically Apple and thus able to run without having the keys to the contents of my entire hard drive???

We are all working - and told to work! - so diligently to keep our security software up to date, to install latest patches, to have a firewall, to check suspicious e-mail... And Apple then asks for the highest level passwords of all it's customers who have to send in devices for repair? Can't do the repair without it???

I have to say, this has cause me to really re-think my trust in Apple. It's sad for me as this seems so obviously irresponsible and unethical.

All that you say is true and the correct thing to do. And it's what I'll do as well (thanks for the clone tip).

I'm just aware that you are intellectually gifted enough to understand what needs to be done, how to accomplish it and have the resources to do it without a huge disruption to your life. But there are so many who are not where you are. They will give Apple complete access and internalize another lesson that when an authority asks you for your password and tells you it's important, you do it. (And there is high likelihood that all will be fine; I'm sure most Apple techs are fine people.

But Apple is so controlling of their "ecosystem" that they can create whatever system they want for testing repair. They have consciously created a system in which repair testing requires such access is beyond me. It's like the plumber telling you they need the keys to your house, and the combination to your wall safe and your safe deposit keys to check the repair to the water heater.

In Apple's case, they may have created a system in which that is true! And that is highly irresponsible. And I think customers should not stand for it.

There is simply too much on the average person's laptop to leave it unsupervised with a 3rd party. Especially when most people's file structure is something like: documents>financial>taxes>tax returns It would take 10 seconds to navigate to insanely private info and take a photo with...an iPhone. And that alone would open one's entire life to misery.

And I'm carrying on about it in the way that only a disappointed fan can. I've rooted for Apple since the 80s and wanted to see them as the customer-centered tech company that doesn't go in for the shenanigans that plague MicroSoft. So when Apple asked for my passwords so nonchalantly and then insisted it necessary for hardware repair...I was stunned in a way I wasn't expecting.

Apple, I think this needs addressing ASAP and I'm disappointed that such basic security has not be regarded as essential long before this. I'm honestly sad about it.