Taking a computer for repair is necessary when the device has a problem. However, this is also the time for users to pay special attention to avoid the risk of personal information leakage - an increasingly common risk in the digital age. Here are important points you need to understand to protect data when handing over the machine to the repairman.
Backup important data before taking it for repair
This is the first and most important step. Before transferring the device, you should back up all important data to an external hard drive or cloud storage services such as Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox. This helps prevent data loss in case of an incident or when the device is improperly intercepted.
Deleting or encrypting sensitive data
If possible, delete or encrypt important data such as personal documents, passwords, images, or financial data. Free drive encryption tools such as veraCrypt or BitLocker ( Windows) help you lock data, making it impossible for others to access even with physical quyen on the device.
Remove hard drive or storage device when possible
If you are not confident about security, removing the hard drive and keeping it will limit data access. The repairman can check other hardware without a hard drive containing personal data.
Set the iOS/UEFI password and lock connection ports
turned on the iOS/UEFI password to prevent others from starting the device or changing the hardware setting when not allowed. At the same time, a USB port lock helps avoid copying data outwards.
Log out and delete personal accounts
Log out of accounts such as email, social networks and delete web browsing history, cookies on the browser to reduce the risk of accounts being illegally accessed.
Choose a reputable and well-rated repair service
Choosing genuine repair centers or reputable stores that are widely appreciated to help reduce the risk of data mining.
Monitoring the repair and re-inspection of the machine after receiving it
If possible, you should monitor or directly hand over the device to a technician to ensure a transparent repair process. After receiving the device, carefully check the data and change the passwords of important accounts.
Reset the operating system when suspected of being interfered
If you suspect your device is infected with spyware or malware, reinstall the operating system and restore data from a secure backup.
