Question about the Genius Bar and Macbook security

[shanti]

I've never taken it in for any service, but know about the nightmare of waiting for service there, even with an appointment. What I need to know is, do the assistants need ones password to replace a battery? What about note widgets and things like that? I keep some passwords on my note widgets that I don't want anyone to see, but don't want to put in my keychain.

Anyone have an answer? Thanks!

[forgotmylogin]

1. I don't believe they need to access the OS to replace a battery.

The batteries are not user-accessible, so they have to open the machine. They shouldn't need to turn it on except to see if the battery is charging, which should show on the lock screen somewhere I think - or just if the machine powers on when the battery is hooked up.

If you're really worried, and you know the machine will be out of your hands longer than you are present and waiting for it, use Time Machine or another hard drive backup utility to save all your data at home, then reinstall the OS clean with nothing there. Then when you get the machine back, restore your files.

[CincyDem]

2. In my Genius Bar experience...

...any time that the've needed a password entered for any reason, they spin the laptop around and ask me to enter the PW. I've never had anyone ask me for a password.

I don't know if they need assess to the OS or not to replace the battery but, IMHO, I don't think you have an issue. If you're concerned about your notes thing, print it out at home, delete it, and rebuild it when you're done. Then burn the paper....lol

good luck.

[Sancho]

3. My Genius Bar has been a good experience. I've been there more than a few times.

They kept appointments, fixed things, and in a few cases I used a pw to update a repaired or replaced item from iCloud. Once was an iPad, and once a MacBook Air.

I change my Apple PW from time to time. If you are worried, set a new pw before going to the Apple store. Change it back when you get home.

[CloudWatcher]

4. Macbook security & FileVault

Last edited Wed Feb 13, 2019, 03:07 PM - Edit history (1)

Note that if you do not have "FileVault" enabled, then it is really trivial to get to all of your disk contents even without your password. If FileVault is off, then the disk is unencrypted, and you can boot the Mac in "target disk mode" and just cable it into a different Mac ... where it will appear as an external disk.

If you're worried about security on your Mac, then enable FileVault (in System prefs, Security & Privacy, FileVault) and make sure you (1) don't forget your password and (2) also print out and save the "recovery password."

Of course, once FileVault is enabled, if you lose your password and the "recovery password," you're seriously out of luck. The contents are gone and even Apple won't be able to get your files back.

(I'm ignoring here the issues of keeping a good backup with TimeMachine and encrypting those backup files as well.)

Btw I've never had to wait very long for a Genius Bar when I've made an appointment. And I doubt very much that they need your password to replace a battery.

[shanti]

5. Thanks for your advice, everyone!

I took it to the appointment today, and waited maybe two minutes. He looked at the power icon at the top of the screen, deduced that it was the battery, and said he'd have to order one. Tested the system just to be sure there was nothing else wrong. Three days to get it, will drop it off then, and another 3-5 days to replace it, then pick up. Cost: $129, just for the battery, no labor costs. Perfect!

[Tetrachloride]

6. Authorized resellers

The Apple Store in my area is inconvenient in time, distance, parking, in addition to being a mad house.

Instead, I have two “Authorized” places to choose from.. Way closer, quieter and professional in more ways than Apple Retail.