Was wiping the hard drive really necessary?

[james948]

Apple replaced my MacBook Pro M1 battery under warranty. They told me to turn off Find My before sending it in which I did.
I've just got it back and the hard drive is wiped. I have a backup but it's going to take (apparently) 31 hours to copy over.

I'm just wondering whether it was really necessary to wipe the hard drive. I had FileVault on so perhaps that's why but it seems mad to me that they don't have a way of checking the firmware without booting using your ssd.

Just asking out of interest and because I now have 31 hours to kill.

 

[Paul Deemer]

Standard Ops by Apple when doing repairs. It makes it easier for them to fix hardware and diagnose software issues with a clean install.

 

[MisterSavage]

Holy hell, I'm shocked they don't warn you of this ahead of time. I know so many people with terrible backup habits.

 

[chrfr]

Holy hell, I'm shocked they don't warn you of this ahead of time. I know so many people with terrible backup habits.

They do notify users, repeatedly, about it, and they make users sign a document that they understand it’s possible that the data will be erased.
Data is not always erased when sending computers in for repair.

 

[MacCheetah3]

Holy hell, I'm shocked they don't warn you of this ahead of time. I know so many people with terrible backup habits.

First thing:

1. Make a backup​

Back up your Mac

Having a backup is important in case it becomes necessary to erase or replace your computer's startup disk during service.

Get your Mac ready for service - Apple Support

To save time and protect your information, complete as many of these steps as you can before your Mac is serviced.

support.apple.com

I have no doubt it’s also in the instructions and other communications Apple sends when the process has been initiated as @chrfr states.

 

[james948]

Standard Ops by Apple when doing repairs. It makes it easier for them to fix hardware and diagnose software issues with a clean install.

Err, yes, that's why you boot from an external known good drive to diagnose whether it's hardware or software but when you know it's a hardware battery swap out why wipe the HD?

When I was a genius I did this all the time. I'm asking whether anything has changed w/r/t booting into diagnostics when FileVault is on. I doubt it since in that same document it says:

"If you're concerned about the security of your data during service, either turn on FileVault or remove your data, such as by erasing all content and settings."

So wiping the hard drive isn't done as a matter of course.

If the logic board were being swapped out I could understand this but here I am 24 hours later still dealing with the fallout; dropbox is throwing up errors and needing to sync and THEN migrate to the new finder integration thing.

And all my privacy allowances have been reset.

That's just the tip of the iceberg.

 

[james948]

They do notify users, repeatedly, about it, and they make users sign a document that they understand it’s possible that the data will be erased.
Data is not always erased when sending computers in for repair.

Exactly. But what could possibly have caused them to reset the data with a simple battery swap?

 

[JustAnExpat]

Exactly. But what could possibly have caused them to reset the data with a simple battery swap?

They may have been testing other parts o the system.

 

[MisterSavage]

They do notify users, repeatedly, about it, and they make users sign a document that they understand it’s possible that the data will be erased.
Data is not always erased when sending computers in for repair.

First thing:

Get your Mac ready for service - Apple Support

To save time and protect your information, complete as many of these steps as you can before your Mac is serviced.

support.apple.com

I have no doubt it’s also in the instructions and other communications Apple sends when the process has been initiated as @chrfr states.

That's good to know. Thanks!

 

[james948]

They may have been testing other parts o the system.

That's true. But they would have been testing the hardware not the software which means they could have used (this may have changed for Apple Silicon - which is what I'm interested in knowing) an external hard drive to test the hardware.

It's such a pain re-imaging. Things should be the same but they're not. Hopefully apple will sort this.

 

[Iwavvns]

I would have done a complete wipe and reinstall anyway. I know we are supposed to trust Apple, but I served as a law enforcement officer for some years and it became clear that people, no matter what title they hold, cannot be fully trusted at all times. Think about it.. how does a phishing scam work? It works by attempting to instill a level of trust in order for the target to let their guard down. Most phishing involves trying to convince the target that they are interacting with someone that they should trust - Apple Inc or a family member. This is why scammers use spoofed contact information.

If I have to give my computer to someone in order to repair something then that computer will be wiped and the OS reinstalled when I get it back. I know this is a pain in the backside, but this is the only way to ensure personal security.

 

[kitKAC]

That's true. But they would have been testing the hardware not the software which means they could have used (this may have changed for Apple Silicon - which is what I'm interested in knowing) an external hard drive to test the hardware.

It's such a pain re-imaging. Things should be the same but they're not. Hopefully apple will sort this.

https://eclecticlight.co/2023/03/15...ters-how-it-can-stop-external-bootable-disks/

 

[Saturn007]

If I have to give my computer to someone in order to repair something then that computer will be wiped and the OS reinstalled when I get it back. I know this is a pain in the backside, but this is the only way to ensure personal security.

Have always done the same — complete secure erase and reinstall the OS *before* sending it in or dropping it off for repair. That's true whether it's been Apple repair, local tech repair, or even university tech support.

If one wants to protect their privacy — and that of the people you deal with, whose private information is on your device — you need to do that. After all, my email correspondents, co-authors, or people in my contacts app haven't given their permission for others to see their personal information!

No matter how unlikely it might be, there's no way I'd risk someone else seeing my tax documents, confidential emails, reports, business meeting notes, financial spreadsheets, bank account numbers, student grades, Keychain passwords, family photos, etc. or the private info of family, friends, and colleagues.

Yet, I feel for the OP because there should have been a bolded statement that customers must check off and sign against acknowledging that the device could well be erased. Any such statement should NOT be secreted away in the fine print or buried on line 287 out of 1,456 buried in a multi-page permission document!

Plus, if an unexpected need to erase the HD or SSD arises during inspection, Apple should get permission from the owner before proceeding.

 

[chrfr]

Plus, if an unexpected need to erase the HD or SSD arises during inspection, Apple should get permission from the owner before proceeding.

As I wrote in post 4 of the thread, the owner is notified at the time they drop off the computer for repair that data needs to be backed up and may be erased as part of the repair. The owner needs to agree to this prior to the repair being completed. This is all made very clear by the genius when they take in the computer; it's not buried in any fine print.