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Samsung’s “repair mode” lets technicians look at your phone, not your data
- scohesc 4y agoAny time I send a device into a manufacturer for repair, standard practice for me is to completely wipe the device if I can. I assume I'm getting a refurbished unit back since it's easier for their repair depot probably. Not sure how many parts on a phone can break that will still let you access and enter Repair Mode (headphone jack? chargeport and buttons? Anything like LCD/touch being broken make it near impossible/difficult.) Interesting idea from Samsung.
- AdmiralAsshat 4y ago> Any time I send a device into a manufacturer for repair, standard practice for me is to completely wipe the device if I can. I assume I'm getting a refurbished unit back since it's easier for their repair depot probably. And I hate that, really. If I send in my phone I want my phone back, not some random schmuck's phone. I shouldn't have to worry about my phone being wiped or getting another phone entirely just because the battery died. I don't know why we as consumers would balk at the idea of Apple/HP/Dell giving you a different, refurbished laptop when you send yours in for repair, but are okay with it potentially happening to your phone.
- manwithaplan 4y agoI also try to erase data from the phone before bringing it to the service shop. Recently the screen went unresponsive, luckily connecting a USB mouse was enough for some basic control. I imagine that Repair mode is an enhanced version of their Emergency mode (which disables almost all the apps) while also encrypting the data partition (this way, cloning it to a refurbished phone would preserve privacy).