Something to be aware of w/ computer repair places
Jul 24, 2009 22:24:06 GMT
Post by CharlieChomper on Jul 24, 2009 22:24:06 GMT
Oddly enough, I originally came across the source material for this a few days ago (at least, the video the article references). However, as it contained some images in some places that were either not "family friendly"/"non-work safe" or questionable or on the borderline of it, I chose not to post it here for that reason.
The article I'm posting however, does not contain those images, but does contain the information that was in the video footage which is mainly what I had wanted to share anyway.
Sadly, this is far from the first time I've heard of something of this nature as happening as well--not even just with independently-run shops or techs.
This is also something that I know, in the past, has also happened with a couple of well-known computer shop chains as well (one UK-based, the other mostly found in North America)--at least, in terms of being caught in the act of it. With one such company, it made so much press just within the tech and techie communities a few years ago, that the company apparently made major changes into their handling of customers' computers brought in for repairs and any information on them, etc.
While the article mostly touches upon locations in the UK, this is (obviously) a global problem--and provides another worry, as it were, regarding honesty concerns on the part of consumers.
However, if little else, it should also illustrate the importance of making sure to remove anything off your hard drive(s) that you wouldn't want anyone else to gain access to or see for whatever reason before you take a computer in for repairs or any sort of work as well as to definitely clear out all your cookies, cache, and history files after you're finished accessing the internet through a browser--as that information not only can get stolen (and not just in the case of a crooked repair person--there are other methods out there that are sometimes used to gain access to this information as well), but allow thieves access to your accounts as well as to pass that along (in the case of most cookies, for example, they will often store your account name/login ID as well as password for a given site--however, I usually recommend clearing all that out after visiting a site which would actually use it and before going on to the next site).
Edited to add: I don't know why that space is there in between the "i" and "s" in this with that link, but when I typed it out, it wasn't--and still isn't appearing for me in attempting to edit it.
The article I'm posting however, does not contain those images, but does contain the information that was in the video footage which is mainly what I had wanted to share anyway.
Sadly, this is far from the first time I've heard of something of this nature as happening as well--not even just with independently-run shops or techs.This is also something that I know, in the past, has also happened with a couple of well-known computer shop chains as well (one UK-based, the other mostly found in North America)--at least, in terms of being caught in the act of it. With one such company, it made so much press just within the tech and techie communities a few years ago, that the company apparently made major changes into their handling of customers' computers brought in for repairs and any information on them, etc.
While the article mostly touches upon locations in the UK, this is (obviously) a global problem--and provides another worry, as it were, regarding honesty concerns on the part of consumers.
However, if little else, it should also illustrate the importance of making sure to remove anything off your hard drive(s) that you wouldn't want anyone else to gain access to or see for whatever reason before you take a computer in for repairs or any sort of work as well as to definitely clear out all your cookies, cache, and history files after you're finished accessing the internet through a browser--as that information not only can get stolen (and not just in the case of a crooked repair person--there are other methods out there that are sometimes used to gain access to this information as well), but allow thieves access to your accounts as well as to pass that along (in the case of most cookies, for example, they will often store your account name/login ID as well as password for a given site--however, I usually recommend clearing all that out after visiting a site which would actually use it and before going on to the next site).
Edited to add: I don't know why that space is there in between the "i" and "s" in this with that link, but when I typed it out, it wasn't--and still isn't appearing for me in attempting to edit it.
My PC has been just taking to a private IT guy at hubby's work for a check up, and I certainly wasnt able to collect anything beforehand! 
