Thinking about taking your computer to the repair shop? Be very afraid

[paeng]

Thinking about taking your computer to the repair shop? Be very afraid | Ars Technica

Quote

If you’ve ever worried about the privacy of your sensitive data when seeking a computer or phone repair, a new study suggests you have good reason. It found that privacy violations occurred at least 50 percent of the time, not surprisingly with female customers bearing the brunt. Researchers at University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, recovered logs from laptops after receiving overnight repairs from 12 commercial shops. The logs showed that technicians from six of the locations had accessed personal data and that two of those shops also copied data onto a personal device. Devices belonging to females were more likely to be snooped on, and that snooping tended to seek more sensitive data, including both sexually revealing and non-sexual pictures, documents, and financial information.

[Ascrobius]

Fortunately, I can deal with any computer issues that I have primarily due to the fact that I built and repaired PCs for many years and can handle all of it without assistance. But I must say, I'd never allow another human being to work on my PC more out of principle than any other thing. And while I don't have anything on my machines that is controversial, per se, but do I own my own private practice and have loads of information related to that which is quite confidential in nature. But even if I didn't, I'd never give my machine to anyone to "fix." Perhaps I am fortunate in this regard, and I do feel bad for people that cannot do it themselves. In many ways the technocratic "revolution" has brought about many unhealthy things for human beings, including the diminishing of healthy boundaries and privacy, among many other things that have been sacrificed in the name of "convenience."

[Zaharoff]

Years ago, I could take my computer to a friend who ran IT for a big outfit.
The one time I took it into a "repair" joint, I removed the hard drive first.
Nowadays I am pretty much my own fix-it guy.

[ThisCreepingEvil]

Not sure I'd call something happening 1/8th of the time "often" like the study does.

[Ascrobius]

I hear you. And while I think "never" is what people would like to see, that is obviously unrealistic. But in reality, that it happens "at all" in light of the tacit agreement between the person providing service and those paying for it that it won't happen, that it happens at all seems like far too "often" to the average person, I would think.

[Metaphysical Mutant]

Encrypting your hard drive will prevent anyone from just sticking in a bootable USB and accessing everything on it. Definitely don't give anyone your login password.

[Knygathin]

Luckily my laptop never completely crashed on me. Had to reset it a couple of times, but was always able to save most information first.

USB sticks on the other hand, crash one after another. Very frustrating. They are not dependable at all. And cannot be repaired or retrieved, with any of the overly optimistic recovery tools offered online, not to my experience.
I tried a WD Elements Portable "hard disc", hoping it will be more durable. But I dare not count on it.

[paeng]

I don't know if creating a guest account helps, but might have to do if part of the problem involves something with or in the boot hard drive.

Also, I find DIY repairs for laptops and all-in-one desktop machines difficult as they may be difficult to open (you can sometimes unscrew some parts but other parts of the body have to be pried open carefully) and there isn't a lot of space between cards and chips.

You can probably consider having desktops custom-made. The gist is find a nice configuration for a PC rig online, find the nearest large computer store with helpful techs, and see if they can copy it.

[Zaharoff]

I maintain a Notepad list of software used, sorted by Audio - Video - Other.
I also keep copies of installers.
On external drives I backup files and folders periodically.
External drives I plug in when needed, otherwise keep disconnected and powered off. Learned the hard way, externals run too long, too hot, they fry.
My main lap I switched to SSD a few years ago and maxxed the RAM.
When the computer fails, I am somewhat ready.

Have a dozen flashdrives of varying size, half with Linux OS on them.
These will operate most "dead" systems. Meaning you can use the internet, and other tasks, depending on storage capability.
I also have some travel flashdrives, with my browsers, extensions, etc ...
It is surprising how many friends and family don't have AdBlock or any sort of data protection.

My concern is computers will go the way of the dodo, as more and more people are satisfied with pads, phones and streaming, viewing computers as too much effort.

[Robert Adam Gilmour]

I recall hearing that photo developing shops used to copy people's photos all the time, especially naked photos.