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Apple has an easy path to reset an Apple Silicon device by the original owner so it can be sold and used by another. I know because I've done it. But if it is s

by jb1991 4y ago

Apple has an easy path to reset an Apple Silicon device by the original owner so it can be sold and used by another. I know because I've done it. But if it is stolen, game over. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201065 https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201065 (to some of the commenters, note Step 2 carefully -- the rest of this guide is for older macs)

Nullabillity 4y ago
[flagged]
- coder543 4y ago
  Step 2: > If you're using macOS Monterey or later on a Mac with Apple silicon or a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip, use Erase All Content and Settings instead of the remaining steps in this article. So, it is literally a two step process for any Mac released since the end of 2017, and the first step is just an optional reminder to cancel or transfer your AppleCare coverage if you have any. So, one real step. Wow, so hard. > assuming that the seller is even aware The buyer should make the seller aware of the problem, because it is in the buyer's interest not to end up with scrap. But, regardless, why would the seller not want to wipe their computer first? The seller will inevitably hit the button mentioned in the help article simply because that's the only obvious way to wipe the computer to anyone who isn't super technical. This is a problem that practically solves itself for devices that aren't stolen.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
  - willnonya 4y ago
    This again assumes the owner isn't ignorant of the requirement or apathetic to it. Corpo6entities tend to be apathetic while most private owners are simply stupid.
    - coder543 4y ago
      >> The buyer should make the seller aware of the problem, because it is in the buyer's interest not to end up with scrap. How does this assume anything about the owner/seller? It’s entirely on the buyer to make sure they’re getting what they want out of a transaction (as long as the seller is not misrepresenting the product), and activation lock has been a thing for like a decade on Apple devices, so it should be widely known. If they make major purchases without even doing the bare minimum of due diligence, they will have a bad time regardless of activation lock. I’ve seen people buy ancient MacBooks off eBay that can’t run the software they need, simply because they didn’t do the research. That isn’t the seller’s fault. If the seller is misrepresenting the product as having the activation lock removed when it isn’t, that becomes a legal issue. On platforms like eBay, they will happily side with the buyer and refund them in cases like that. For B2B stuff, that’s why lawyers exist.
  - goosedragons 4y ago
    Click step two and guess how many steps it is.
- pram 4y ago
  [flagged]
- jb1991 4y ago
  False. It's not 9 steps. It takes less than 5 minutes and requires nearly no effort.
- merb 4y ago
  it's a single step if you don't have applecare and applecare just makes it harder, because you need to cancel it. it's just a two button process with big fat red buttons and you need to enter you password.
nightski 4y ago
Hmm, I've seen recyclers with stacks of these machines (including new M1 Max's) that they say they have to throw out because they can't do this. I wonder if you are missing something.
- Operyl 4y ago
  We're not missing something, the recyclers are. The original owner just has to use their Apple ID to disassociate the device. The problem is, that step isn't happening, and the juggling of devices from reseller to reseller results in the original "owner" becoming lost.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
  - cameldrv 4y ago
    Juggling of devices from reseller to reseller sounds like laundering stolen goods to me. If it’s a legitimate sale, the original recycler will require the seller to wipe/unlock the device or they will only give a steeply discounted price. If the seller is going to get hundreds/thousands less by not wiping the device, they will do it. Thus, the only problem for recyclers is recycling stolen laptops.
    - fmajid 4y ago
      Not necessarily, one of them gave the example of machines acquired at bankruptcy.
      - hedora 4y ago
        The bankruptcy court should have compelled the former owner to sell the laptops instead of scrapping them. The proceeds would go to creditors. I’m sure there are plenty of court precedents around bankrupt businesses trashing assets out of spite rather than selling them.
        4y ago
SilasX 4y ago
I'm glad they have that process outlined, but dang if it couldn't use a little streamlining. Individually sign out of iTunes(step 4), and iCloud(5), and iMessage(6)? They couldn't add something to the OS that does all three for you? And the later steps (erasing disk[8], reinstalling MacOS[8], and resetting NVRAM[9]) don't somehow already break those sessions?
- jb1991 4y ago
  You did not read the guide correctly -- those other steps are for older versions of the mac. Recent T2 on Apple Silicon is a very short, easy reset.
  - wkat4242 4y ago
    And pre-T2 Macs don't have activation lock anyway so it's not an issue.
- Operyl 4y ago
  Step two is a catch all, if you have a certain version of macOS or later. > use Erase All Content and Settings instead of the remaining steps in this article. For any other Mac or macOS, continue to step 3.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- krolden 4y ago
  No, if you reinstall macos without removing the machine from your apple account it will lock down just like a factory reset iPhone and require you to login to the original account.
- kayodelycaon 4y ago
  Take a closer look at Step 2: If you're using macOS Monterey or later on a Mac with Apple silicon or a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip, use Erase All Content and Settings instead of the remaining steps in this article. For any other Mac or macOS, continue to step 3.
krolden 4y ago
Yeah, extra work for overworked IT departments. I'm sure they'll be happy to add extra work they dont have to do. Ive worked with second hand devices for a long time. Ive had many come through that have activation/MDM/etc locks and have tried calling the IT dept they came from and all but about one time they pretty much just laughed at me or just played dumb about it entirely. Apple and other vendors were no help in this as they just tell you to contact the original owner.
- jb1991 4y ago
  >Yeah, extra work for overworked IT departments. I'm sure they'll be happy to add extra work they dont have to do. But at the benefit of less-burdened security teams, and greatly enhanced peace of mind for users and info-sensitive organizations? You can argue it's taking something highly risky like security and shifting those man hours to something not as threatening.
  - imwillofficial 4y ago
    The world changes and so do procedures.
  - krolden 4y ago
    Most Security Depts were just fine with HDD/ssd destruction. With new apple machines there is no possibility of this.
    - jb1991 4y ago
      But security is about more than what you do at the end of a machine’s ownership, it’s all the things you have to consider while the machine is out in the world with very sensitive information on it. And now those security departments have much less to worry about because of this security architecture in the chip. As the sibling commenter points out, this should also result in less waste as those drives do not need to be destroyed if the device is properly unlocked.
      - 4y ago
jakub_g 4y ago
The article says that some corporations do not care and do not cooperate after unloading the machine to recyclers. (Including schools - which makes a bit more sense, one can assume school computer for pupils does not have any security-critical information, apart from maybe network config etc).
gnicholas 4y ago
Strangely, if you follow steps 1 and 2 then you miss step 3, which is to back up or transfer your files. Why would the owner of an Apple Silicon machine not want to do this?

by jb1991 4y ago

Nullabillity 4y ago

[flagged]

coder543 4y ago
Step 2: > If you're using macOS Monterey or later on a Mac with Apple silicon or a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip, use Erase All Content and Settings instead of the remaining steps in this article. So, it is literally a two step process for any Mac released since the end of 2017, and the first step is just an optional reminder to cancel or transfer your AppleCare coverage if you have any. So, one real step. Wow, so hard. > assuming that the seller is even aware The buyer should make the seller aware of the problem, because it is in the buyer's interest not to end up with scrap. But, regardless, why would the seller not want to wipe their computer first? The seller will inevitably hit the button mentioned in the help article simply because that's the only obvious way to wipe the computer to anyone who isn't super technical. This is a problem that practically solves itself for devices that aren't stolen.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- willnonya 4y ago
  This again assumes the owner isn't ignorant of the requirement or apathetic to it. Corpo6entities tend to be apathetic while most private owners are simply stupid.
  - coder543 4y ago
    >> The buyer should make the seller aware of the problem, because it is in the buyer's interest not to end up with scrap. How does this assume anything about the owner/seller? It’s entirely on the buyer to make sure they’re getting what they want out of a transaction (as long as the seller is not misrepresenting the product), and activation lock has been a thing for like a decade on Apple devices, so it should be widely known. If they make major purchases without even doing the bare minimum of due diligence, they will have a bad time regardless of activation lock. I’ve seen people buy ancient MacBooks off eBay that can’t run the software they need, simply because they didn’t do the research. That isn’t the seller’s fault. If the seller is misrepresenting the product as having the activation lock removed when it isn’t, that becomes a legal issue. On platforms like eBay, they will happily side with the buyer and refund them in cases like that. For B2B stuff, that’s why lawyers exist.
- goosedragons 4y ago
  Click step two and guess how many steps it is.
pram 4y ago
[flagged]
jb1991 4y ago
False. It's not 9 steps. It takes less than 5 minutes and requires nearly no effort.
merb 4y ago
it's a single step if you don't have applecare and applecare just makes it harder, because you need to cancel it. it's just a two button process with big fat red buttons and you need to enter you password.

nightski 4y ago

Hmm, I've seen recyclers with stacks of these machines (including new M1 Max's) that they say they have to throw out because they can't do this. I wonder if you are missing something.

Operyl 4y ago
We're not missing something, the recyclers are. The original owner just has to use their Apple ID to disassociate the device. The problem is, that step isn't happening, and the juggling of devices from reseller to reseller results in the original "owner" becoming lost.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- cameldrv 4y ago
  Juggling of devices from reseller to reseller sounds like laundering stolen goods to me. If it’s a legitimate sale, the original recycler will require the seller to wipe/unlock the device or they will only give a steeply discounted price. If the seller is going to get hundreds/thousands less by not wiping the device, they will do it. Thus, the only problem for recyclers is recycling stolen laptops.
  - fmajid 4y ago
    Not necessarily, one of them gave the example of machines acquired at bankruptcy.
    - hedora 4y ago
      The bankruptcy court should have compelled the former owner to sell the laptops instead of scrapping them. The proceeds would go to creditors. I’m sure there are plenty of court precedents around bankrupt businesses trashing assets out of spite rather than selling them.
      - 4y ago

SilasX 4y ago

I'm glad they have that process outlined, but dang if it couldn't use a little streamlining. Individually sign out of iTunes(step 4), and iCloud(5), and iMessage(6)? They couldn't add something to the OS that does all three for you? And the later steps (erasing disk[8], reinstalling MacOS[8], and resetting NVRAM[9]) don't somehow already break those sessions?

jb1991 4y ago
You did not read the guide correctly -- those other steps are for older versions of the mac. Recent T2 on Apple Silicon is a very short, easy reset.
- wkat4242 4y ago
  And pre-T2 Macs don't have activation lock anyway so it's not an issue.
Operyl 4y ago
Step two is a catch all, if you have a certain version of macOS or later. > use Erase All Content and Settings instead of the remaining steps in this article. For any other Mac or macOS, continue to step 3.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
krolden 4y ago
No, if you reinstall macos without removing the machine from your apple account it will lock down just like a factory reset iPhone and require you to login to the original account.
kayodelycaon 4y ago
Take a closer look at Step 2: If you're using macOS Monterey or later on a Mac with Apple silicon or a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip, use Erase All Content and Settings instead of the remaining steps in this article. For any other Mac or macOS, continue to step 3.

krolden 4y ago

Yeah, extra work for overworked IT departments. I'm sure they'll be happy to add extra work they dont have to do. Ive worked with second hand devices for a long time. Ive had many come through that have activation/MDM/etc locks and have tried calling the IT dept they came from and all but about one time they pretty much just laughed at me or just played dumb about it entirely. Apple and other vendors were no help in this as they just tell you to contact the original owner.

jb1991 4y ago
>Yeah, extra work for overworked IT departments. I'm sure they'll be happy to add extra work they dont have to do. But at the benefit of less-burdened security teams, and greatly enhanced peace of mind for users and info-sensitive organizations? You can argue it's taking something highly risky like security and shifting those man hours to something not as threatening.
- imwillofficial 4y ago
  The world changes and so do procedures.
- krolden 4y ago
  Most Security Depts were just fine with HDD/ssd destruction. With new apple machines there is no possibility of this.
  - jb1991 4y ago
    But security is about more than what you do at the end of a machine’s ownership, it’s all the things you have to consider while the machine is out in the world with very sensitive information on it. And now those security departments have much less to worry about because of this security architecture in the chip. As the sibling commenter points out, this should also result in less waste as those drives do not need to be destroyed if the device is properly unlocked.
    - 4y ago

jakub_g 4y ago

The article says that some corporations do not care and do not cooperate after unloading the machine to recyclers. (Including schools - which makes a bit more sense, one can assume school computer for pupils does not have any security-critical information, apart from maybe network config etc).

gnicholas 4y ago

Strangely, if you follow steps 1 and 2 then you miss step 3, which is to back up or transfer your files. Why would the owner of an Apple Silicon machine not want to do this?