privacy & laptop repair

Euphoria1z

Hi


Might need to take my Toshiba Satellite P50-C laptop to get it repaired/diagnosed.


Laptop works fine but now has a constant black screen (can connect and use with TV so screen issue).


How do you stop/ensure that who ever is doing the repair doesn't go through your personal files/photos?


Can some one talk me through if there's a way to lock files/ folders/pictures from being accessed?


In terms of files, there just personal stuff like pay slips, passport copies, lease contracts, and In terms of photos there just family photos so nothing mega sensitive.


Windows 10. Google suggests you can password protect them. will that be enough?


Thanks

Tiexen

If your really worried about the data being accessed I'd backup everything, to usb drive and a dropbox type cloud service) you should have done this anyway) then make a note of all the programs you use then reset the PC back to factory settings (search setting for reset this PC) get it repaired - or buy a new laptop, then reinstall it all back to how it was.

forgotmyname

Reset wont remove all traces of data though.

File recovery software maybe able to recover the files.

You can password some files but there are ways and means around some of that.

They can copy your files and spend as long as they like trying to crack the password.

Dont forget that some programs create backup files when you open the original. Those backups maybe on the drive and recoverable.

If you dont want them to see your files then remove them and make sure they are not recoverable.

debitcardmayhem

You may be able to repair it yourself, but depending on where you want to get it repaired they should be able to do it without the Hard disk anyway

googler

Take the hard drive out and keep it.

that

they do not need a hard disk to fix a screen, so just remove the disk.

you could put in a £20 ssd and put linux on it, if you feel it really needs a disk. If the existing drive is not ssd, then this could be an excellent time for an ssd replacement

The real issue is that if what you have got is so private, how come you have not encrypted the whole disk? It is a target for burglars, opportunists, thieves, and a pita for careless people if the laptop goes awry

unforeseen

forgotmyname wrote: »

Reset wont remove all traces of data though.

File recovery software maybe able to recover the files.

You can password some files but there are ways and means around some of that.

They can copy your files and spend as long as they like trying to crack the password.

Dont forget that some programs create backup files when you open the original. Those backups maybe on the drive and recoverable.

If you dont want them to see your files then remove them and make sure they are not recoverable.

Do you really think that a repair company would bother going to the trouble of using recovery software on a laptop brought in for screen repair.

Paranoia knows no bounds.

System

Your average PC technician is so sick to the back teeth of seeing computers that they really can't be bothered going through all your files and they just want to get the fault fixed so they can get it off their bench.

If you're paranoid about them seeing your personal files why have you got them stored on a laptop which would be one of the first things stolen in a burglary? You can be guaranteed the burglar would be interested in having a poke around much more than a PC technician is.