Do you trust computer repair shops?

[Anonymous]

Considering there's gonna be a tendency they might copy your personal files, brows through your history, or hack your accounts. Really I find it hard to leave. I always keep my eye on them.

Updates

+1 y

i'm not a specialist in this and i don't live in a first world country where people have so many spare time. And i know there are people like that too

Updates

+1 y

I don't care if you do your repairs. That's not the question. Let's pretend you don't do your repairs.

[RickPen]

Considering I have repaired computers professionally, I can attest, at least for me, that we aren't going to waste our time "hacking" an account on a machine, perusing history, or copying personal data. All of those are considered breaches of privacy and very much deserving of being fired. I have never done it, or seen anyone do it.

With that said, I have had computers roll in that have sexual content as the desktop wallpaper, and have then had to report it. That is anything but a fun situation, as the computer owner will then try to blame me, until I bring up browser history and other data to exonerate myself.

Will shops do it? Possibly, depending on how scrupulous they are. You have no guarantees, and people lie. If you're unsure, then it is time to learn to repair things yourself.

[1CentWorth]

as a legit IT person with integrity all my life in such tech stuff, I can tell you that most, damn near all, of them go through your cookies/history, pictures, videos, documents - anything and everything that looks interesting. any nudes? yes, they'll copy them for later. got some information on cute friends? Now he does too. Does facebook log on automatically or save the password? Guess what he's looking into next.

Don't mean to scare you, but if this is a concern, then you should be scared. Oh, and they can get away with it all.

[babybae96]

They aren’t so trustworthy.


One time I took my pc there to replace power supply, then came to pick it up after ages and realised there was no network card. I had to take it back... such a shame they can’t even do a proper work..

[babybae96]

Oh and to mention pc never worked fast again... god knows what else they replaced with garbage quality components.

[InkRat]

Claiming that they changed some parts is fairly major claim. Did they change to power supply you prowided or wanted, or it was there choice?

[DeeDeeDeVour]

I'm so glad my husband has enough computer savvy to repair & maintain our PCs for us.

[OpenWine]

"Considering there's gonna be a tendency they might copy your personal files, brows through your history, or hack your accounts. Really I find it hard to leave. I always keep my eye on them."
- no they are too stupid to do even that I worked at one just to get a feel for the job, the owner even had poor pc knowledge and I had been doing the same work as he did.

there is one thing I learned and that is.. if you don't wanna risk getting screwed yourself learn the skill and use it if you feel you are able to do a decent job in that field.

ehm I don't trust nobody usually not even the car mechanics so I got me a car I can easily work on if something breaks

[Jaximus-Lion]

For the last 14 years i build my own pc (i did it 3 times so far) and I fix it my self too. Because the pc repair shop charges me way too much for very simple things, and they can hustle and trick you so they can charge you more. I build my own and I fix it by my self.

[Jaximus-Lion]

Update: Fair enough, no i don't trust them.

[Torari]

You're really paranoid. What makes you think that out of the hundreds of computers they repair in a week, they'll be particularly interested in your data?

And what makes you think your data hasn't already been sold by Microsoft, Apple, or Google to all the advertisers already?

[elizamichale1]

I once gave my iphone to apple store n when i went to collect it back the guy smiled and said you really have naughty pics but you look hot so i saved all your pics but usually we dont... (he was telling me he did me a favour)

[R3DthatDude]

Now I know they are capable of stupid stuff I’ll make sure everyone I know is more careful

[elizamichale1]

@R3DthatDude yea you should darling

[sensible27]

Whys your name that?

[sensible27]

@r3dthatdude...

[elizamichale1]

@sensible27 whattt

[sensible27]

Not to you...

[elizamichale1]

@sensible27 hmm ok

[R3DthatDude]

It random, but red is my favorite color

[BeenThereLovedIt]

This is why I refuse to work on "consumer" PC's anymore. Nothing but a complete PITA on every level, and then they have the audacity to bitch about us afterwards.

[LburgGuyUsasg]

LoL. I repair laptops, I used to look through the nudes, but I never saved any. Also, as of lately most people keep nudes in their cell phones and not their computers.

[Asker]

That's not the question you can read the update

[LburgGuyUsasg]

In that case you are at their mercy. Doesn't matter if you trust them or not.

[Lynx122]

I've only used one once in Canada and it seemed trustworthy although a bit expensive. Usually the stuff I buy is very solid and lasts a long time so I don't need these shops.

[BeMuse]

I’ve always been able to repair my own computers. That said I have fixed other’s computers and networks and can tell you I just wanted to get the job done and get paid.

[godfatherfan]

As an IT person I do it myself. But you should never EVER bring a phone or computer into a repair place with personal info on it.

[Asker]

Then that would mean my files are dead forever

[godfatherfan]

1) you should always back up any file that you cannot live without or that would be a serious hardship if it were lost.
2) if you want them to try and recover a file, that rarely works. However, it can be done sometimes. Just remove the other information. Really it is just the data that needs to be removed, not the applications.
3) overall, the majority of places are trustworthy. Just check with the better business bureau or its online ratings. Most of these places just want you to keep coming back, so it make no sense for them to steal that kind of stuff. But nobody other then family will ever be 100% safe.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I don't trust too many computer repair technicians, my opinion restore the windows of your computer, do the best you can on your own.

[anonymau55]

You can wipe/delete/lock anything before you give it to them.

[Asker]

I know im just glad my PC has a password not sure if they can access my files through hard drive.

[anonymau55]

Nope not with a password, not easily.

[Asker]

The only thing is that you can't lock everything if you can't even boot your PC. "Delete" no way im deleting my imporant docs.

[anonymau55]

Fair. Repairing your own device is actually super easy though and there are lots of tutorials online.

[Asker]

If you think i haven't done that then I wouldn't actually be asking this question.

[InkRat]

If you use windows, boot with linux since it just plain ignore all access and locks by windows. Also you can recover data from even wiped hdd/ssd. If you want to delete your data, use huge hammer or wipe it at least 7 times, or use special software.

[InkRat]

Password doesn't encript your files, it just doesn't allow someone acces them from same os. Linux doesn't care about your access or passwords as long as they are not file/document specific.

[MrCanada]

Yes they can. Just because they can’t log into your pc they can pull the drive and copy it’s contents and view it on their pc. And pass word protected tiles like word and excel. Supper easily to get around.

[InkRat]

@MrCanada they dont even need to copy hdd, just take linux and boot it from cd or usb.

[Anonymous]

I'm the same. I've never trusted dthem since I took one in for a screen repair and it came out worse even though the screen now worked, some of the functions were messed up.

[DCooper]

It's easier to just do your own repairs than go to the trouble of taking it to a repair shop.

[Asker]

I'm not a specialist in that because i have other things i focus on. And i don't live in a first world country where you have so many spare time.

[DCooper]

Even more reason to be cautious about the repair shop. Maybe just replace the hard drive with a new one and take it in? At least there would be zero risk of them grabbing any personal info then.

[ThatGuy133]

I only go to reputable places for that reason. I also don’t keep sensitive materials on the computer itself.

[scooogy]

I've once worked in one where I thought I had fixed the issue, but then a co-worker came along and said "nope, irrepairable". I didn't even get to know why I was wrong.

[Edanurus]

No... I mean i would fix it myself anyway but if I couldn't for whatever reason i would be sending a wiped device.

[legalboxers]

nope. Been a computer geek since I was 8. I can fix anything

[MrCanada]

I don’t use them I am pretty savvy. But I suppose if I had to use one sure I’d be a little worried.

[Anonymous]

Good question. I like to put all my sensitive files on an external hard drive. SO they can't copy them.

[MORPHEUS_12]

Nope, that's why we do our own repairs.