Login required for repairs??

BobRoss

Active Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2010
Messages
37
My Macbook Pro is with Core atm for repairs under the Apple warrantee. I just received a request for my username and password for them to replace a faulty HDD. Is this the normal MO? Why should I place all my personal information in the hands of someone I don't know?
 

SauRoNZA

Honorary Master
Joined
Jul 6, 2010
Messages
47,847
I always create a separate account for them to use for their testing.

But they can just overwrite your password either way if they really wanted to.

Unless you have Filevault enabled they can just access all your data either way.


I would NOT give them my password and tell them to rather reset, especially if you use Keychain.
 

bwana

MyBroadband
Super Moderator
Joined
Feb 23, 2005
Messages
89,381
My Macbook Pro is with Core atm for repairs under the Apple warrantee. I just received a request for my username and password for them to replace a faulty HDD. Is this the normal MO? Why should I place all my personal information in the hands of someone I don't know?

Can't see why they would need it to replace a hdd - just have them install the OS on the new drive and set it up yourself.
 

zippy

Honorary Master
Joined
May 31, 2005
Messages
10,321
My Macbook Pro is with Core atm for repairs under the Apple warrantee. I just received a request for my username and password for them to replace a faulty HDD. Is this the normal MO? Why should I place all my personal information in the hands of someone I don't know?

When someone asks for your password, then you should be worried.
 

koffiejunkie

Executive Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2004
Messages
9,588
The risk of giving a stranger - trustworthy as they may be - full access to my user account, far outweighs the cost of a new drive. On the occasion that I've had send my laptop in for repairs, I removed my drive, put in an old one and loaded a fresh OSX on it. If it was a drive that died I would just suck it up and pay for the replacement myself.

I realise this doesn't work with the built-in SSD models though. I haven't been in that situation, but since I do use FileVault2 and dilligently keep backups, I would just tell them to wipe the drive.
 

Lord Flacko

Expert Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2012
Messages
1,568
What's the fault with the Mac ? If it's hardware is does not make sense. If it's software then they'll need to replicate the issue to isolate whether it's software or user configuration. There's my 2 cents.
 
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