security returning faulty laptop?

Vicky123

I am having a faulty laptop replaced by Tesco but wondering about the bank details and other security now on the laptop before it died. I'm not comfortable just returning it as it is but it won't turn on at all. I've cancelled word auto renewal from a different machine but how safe is everything from id theft?

Browntoa

If you had a password set up and it was Windows 8 or 10 then its encrypted

aardvaak

Browntoa wrote: »

If you had a password set up and it was Windows 8 or 10 then its encrypted

I was told by a Tesco staff member that all devices returned as faulty get wiped on receipt.

I am not entirely sure I believe it

Vicky123

Browntoa wrote: »

If you had a password set up and it was Windows 8 or 10 then its encrypted

I set up a microsoft account with bank details in order to get the yr free office, so email addy comes up the minute it swictches on, then on microsoft edge you get the home hub, and all the other machines at home, and on the task bar netflix and another bank account. The laptop was just intended for youngests homework, wish I'd just carried on as we were because now the thing is faulty I feel as though everything is vulnerable and relying on Tesco security. Can I just insist on keeping the laptop because of security concerns but still insist they replace it as faulty? Alternatively can I take the back off and remove anything? Came across this on google search
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/sep/28/identity-theft-fears-faulty-laptop-resold

System

Browntoa wrote: »

If you had a password set up and it was Windows 8 or 10 then its encrypted

Where do you get that idea from?

System

Vicky123 wrote: »

Can I just insist on keeping the laptop because of security concerns but still insist they replace it as faulty? Alternatively can I take the back off and remove anything? Came across this on google search
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/sep/28/identity-theft-fears-faulty-laptop-resold

No you can't. How would Tesco get reimbursed from the manufacturer? You could buy a new hard drive and replace the existing one or get a hard drive caddy, put the existing hard drive in it, connect to another PC to wipe it with some specialist software such as DBAN. Merely deleting files doesn't remove them from the hard drive.

AndyPix

Don't worry about it.

Your bank details aren't stored on the device and no one is going to bother trying to hack any passwords etc.

Unless you've got any VERY personal photos on there etc then just pack it up and send it off

Undervalued

Browntoa wrote: »

If you had a password set up and it was Windows 8 or 10 then its encrypted

Are you sure about that?

As I understand it you would need to have chosen to enable Bitlocker, I don't think it is on by default. Also, is that feature not only available in the Pro versions of W8 and W10 and missing from the home editions?

Frozen_up_north

The issue is two fold, but the solution is the same...

If there is sensitive material on the hard drive then remove the hard drive and connect it to another PC or laptop and securely wipe the drive. Free programs like Ccleaner have a secure drive wipe feature, there are others too. Replace the wiped drive in your laptop. Tesco won’t like it, but which is more important, your data or the laptop?

In future, (a) use a password manager with a long and strong password, Keypass is free and easy to use, and (b) any sensitive documents or those involving 3rd parties (club members lists, etc), store in an encrypted folder using the free program Veracrypt.

Laptops are attractive to burglars, would you worry about the data on your laptop if it was stolen? As others mentioned, unless you have the Pro version of Windows and have enabled Bitlocker on it, Windows isn’t secure, the log-on password offers no security at all.

Vicky123

So a replacement laptop arrived this morning, think it was parcel force, I signed for it thinking it was something else I've ordered. There was no instructions at all regarding the faulty lap top so that's still here, are they just leaving it or should I be taking it back? Would've thought they would pick up at the same time as replacing or send an email with returns instruction. I did tell them when I phoned I wasn't happy to return the laptop because of security issues but didn't think they would just leave me to deal with it, hence me posting here. I only had it one day, would that make a difference, don't want to be hanging on to it if I'm not supposed to but happy if I don't have to return it.

Jivesinger

Undervalued wrote: »

Are you sure about that?

As I understand it you would need to have chosen to enable Bitlocker, I don't think it is on by default. Also, is that feature not only available in the Pro versions of W8 and W10 and missing from the home editions?

That's not quite correct.

Windows 8.1 and 10 have something called device encryption which is a cut-down version of Bitlocker that potentially works in all versions (even 'Home' version), but it only works on specific types of hardware.

For instance the hardware must have the operating system on a non-rotational disk (eg. an SSD) and have Secure Boot enabled, and, I think, some other requirements. Plus you need to login with a Microsoft account set to have admin rights. Many machines won't meet these criteria

But if the machine meets all those criteria, yes it will encrypt the operating system's disk by default, even on Windows 10 Home.