4 ms·

i agree, if it's a hardware issue there's no reason to require a login. If the repair is finished and the tech can get to the login/pin screen then the job is d

i agree, if it's a hardware issue there's no reason to require a login. If the repair is finished and the tech can get to the login/pin screen then the job is done. If it's a software issue then maybe they do legitimately need a password but i would never hand one over without very careful consideration. And, strange hands on the keyboard of my laptop or phone would be watched very very closely at all times. I good app would be one that disables the network stack, bluetooth, and cell modem with a separate secure pin.

TeMPOraL 5y ago
I think it should be a standard to have hardware come with a full suite of tests that can be accessed by anyone, without any kind of login. Otherwise, repair shops will keep asking for full access. In my case, many years ago, I got asked by a phone repair shop to backup the phone and wipe it before handing it over unlocked. My understanding was, they had no good way of doing proper diagnosis and after-repair testing without full access to the system.
- toomuchtodo 5y ago
  Like a password enabled BIOS option to allow for booting off of external storage with no access to onboard storage provided? “Valet mode” if you will.
  - splistud 5y ago
    Valet mode! Excellent.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
- grishka 5y ago
  Macs have an "Apple hardware test" you can boot into. And you could as well just boot from an external drive to run all kinds of diagnostics. Phones however...
  - toast0 5y ago
    Androids usually have some magic buttons to get into a bootloader prompt; you could have a diagnostic in there, perhaps.
    - grishka 5y ago
      You can boot into fastboot (a barebones flashing and unlocking mode implemented by the bootloader itself) and recovery (a real kernel + minimal UI on top to apply updates and wipe). From fastboot mode, you can boot into an arbitrary image, but that obviously requires an unlocked bootloader. Unlocking the bootloader almost always performs a wipe "to protect data". In principle, it should be possible to have a diagnostic mode the same way recovery is implemented. But there are no device I know of that have this.
  - pilsetnieks 5y ago
    There is a diagnostic tool for iPhones/iPads, too. It's just not accessible to the general public. https://www.ifixit.com/News/33593/heres-the-secret-repair-tool-apple-wont-let-you-have https://www.ifixit.com/News/33593/heres-the-secret-repair-to...
- michaelt 5y ago
  I see what you mean, but that sounds like a gigantic attack surface for all the companies that sell oppressive regimes tools for hacking into arrested human rights activists' phones.
  - LorenPechtel 5y ago
    It depends on how it's designed. It wouldn't be that expensive to add a second memory chip. Provide some way to boot to the alternate, when the alternate is running the primary isn't even powered up. Zero attack surface.
toxik 5y ago
It is actually sometimes necessary to do some calibration and system tests, I don't know the details but it's basically because Apple wants to screw over third-party repair shops.
Lammy 5y ago
> If the repair is finished and the tech can get to the login/pin screen then the job is done. Not entirely https://www.macrumors.com/2018/09/17/iphone-calibration-process-now-software-only/ https://www.macrumors.com/2018/09/17/iphone-calibration-proc...

TeMPOraL 5y ago

I think it should be a standard to have hardware come with a full suite of tests that can be accessed by anyone, without any kind of login. Otherwise, repair shops will keep asking for full access. In my case, many years ago, I got asked by a phone repair shop to backup the phone and wipe it before handing it over unlocked. My understanding was, they had no good way of doing proper diagnosis and after-repair testing without full access to the system.

toomuchtodo 5y ago
Like a password enabled BIOS option to allow for booting off of external storage with no access to onboard storage provided? “Valet mode” if you will.
- splistud 5y ago
  Valet mode! Excellent.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
grishka 5y ago
Macs have an "Apple hardware test" you can boot into. And you could as well just boot from an external drive to run all kinds of diagnostics. Phones however...
- toast0 5y ago
  Androids usually have some magic buttons to get into a bootloader prompt; you could have a diagnostic in there, perhaps.
  - grishka 5y ago
    You can boot into fastboot (a barebones flashing and unlocking mode implemented by the bootloader itself) and recovery (a real kernel + minimal UI on top to apply updates and wipe). From fastboot mode, you can boot into an arbitrary image, but that obviously requires an unlocked bootloader. Unlocking the bootloader almost always performs a wipe "to protect data". In principle, it should be possible to have a diagnostic mode the same way recovery is implemented. But there are no device I know of that have this.
- pilsetnieks 5y ago
  There is a diagnostic tool for iPhones/iPads, too. It's just not accessible to the general public. https://www.ifixit.com/News/33593/heres-the-secret-repair-tool-apple-wont-let-you-have https://www.ifixit.com/News/33593/heres-the-secret-repair-to...
michaelt 5y ago
I see what you mean, but that sounds like a gigantic attack surface for all the companies that sell oppressive regimes tools for hacking into arrested human rights activists' phones.
- LorenPechtel 5y ago
  It depends on how it's designed. It wouldn't be that expensive to add a second memory chip. Provide some way to boot to the alternate, when the alternate is running the primary isn't even powered up. Zero attack surface.

toxik 5y ago

It is actually sometimes necessary to do some calibration and system tests, I don't know the details but it's basically because Apple wants to screw over third-party repair shops.

Lammy 5y ago

> If the repair is finished and the tech can get to the login/pin screen then the job is done. Not entirely https://www.macrumors.com/2018/09/17/iphone-calibration-process-now-software-only/ https://www.macrumors.com/2018/09/17/iphone-calibration-proc...