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Author Topic: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?  (Read 3378 times)

Offline Mk5 GTian

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Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
« on: March 09, 2013, 06:15:59 pm »

I'm selling an old laptop, but am concerned that it's future use could be associated with me. Is this something I should be concened about, and if so is there anything I should do to protect myself?

I don't know much about computers, hence my career as an interior decorator! Is the ip address (whatever that is) just connected to your email account or your computer as well?

Thanks for your help,

The Luddite.
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Offline camfollower

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Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2013, 06:17:17 pm »
Sell it w/o a HDD to be absolutely sure.
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Offline Mk5 GTian

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Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2013, 06:46:47 pm »
Sorry Camfollower, but what is an HDD?  :confused: :confused: :confused:
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Offline camfollower

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Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2013, 06:53:16 pm »
Quote from: Mk5 GTian on March 09, 2013, 06:46:47 pm
Sorry Camfollower, but what is an HDD?  :confused: :confused: :confused:

Hard Disk Drive
Probably not a viable option for you, but the best protection if your concerned.
Failing that, you could get a data shredder for the most common sensitive files... web history, passwords saved in db's, document folder etc.
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Offline GrayMK5GTI

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Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2013, 07:13:03 pm »
Are you worried that someone will find out the websites you have been on and brand you a pervert?  :signLOL:
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Offline bacillus

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Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2013, 07:23:27 pm »
I would say reformat the hdd and reinstall the original OS.
Oh, I wouldn't worry about someone getting your IP address from yopur laptop as that isn't stored on the hdd.
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Offline phil1975

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Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2013, 07:28:46 pm »
Quote from: GrayMK5GTI on March 09, 2013, 07:13:03 pm
Are you worried that someone will find out the websites you have been on and brand you a pervert?  :signLOL:


All those pictures of susanna reid you mean!! :happy2:
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Offline bigeyd

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Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2013, 08:09:16 pm »
Yeah rip the hard drive out,they are easily removed.
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Offline Jussa

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Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2013, 10:14:53 pm »
Quote from: Mk5 GTian on March 09, 2013, 06:46:47 pm
Sorry Camfollower, but what is an HDD?  :confused: :confused: :confused:

 :signLOL: :signLOL:
Sorry Ian but that takes the biscuit, I think even my old dear knows that  :rolleye:

Where do you live, if u were local to me I'd sort it for you  :happy2:
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Offline bacillus

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Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
« Reply #9 on: March 09, 2013, 10:27:40 pm »
Quote from: Jussa on March 09, 2013, 10:14:53 pm
Where do you live, if u were local to me I'd sort it for you  :happy2:

You just want to see all those pics of Susanna Reid stored on his hdd don't you!   :laugh:
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Offline Jussa

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Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
« Reply #10 on: March 09, 2013, 10:39:34 pm »
Quote from: bacillus on March 09, 2013, 10:27:40 pm
Quote from: Jussa on March 09, 2013, 10:14:53 pm
Where do you live, if u were local to me I'd sort it for you  :happy2:

You just want to see all those pics of Susanna Reid stored on his hdd don't you!   :laugh:

 :signLOL: I was hoping for Jessica Alba and Milan Kunis!!  :jumping:
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Offline edd666999

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Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
« Reply #11 on: March 10, 2013, 12:07:27 am »
Quote from: Mk5 GTian on March 09, 2013, 06:15:59 pm

I'm selling an old laptop, but am concerned that it's future use could be associated with me. Is this something I should be concened about, and if so is there anything I should do to protect myself?

I don't know much about computers, hence my career as an interior decorator! Is the ip address (whatever that is) just connected to your email account or your computer as well?

Thanks for your help,

The Luddite.

For the average buyer of the laptop, re-installing windows on it will stop them getting at anything.

If you sold it to me, if still be able to get at some stuff because i know what im doing.

If you know an I.T based guy he could run a linux live disk and run a program that runs 1's n 0's across the drive in random patters which makes it almost impossible to recover data.

For the average user however 99% of people just re install windows.
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Offline Jussa

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Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
« Reply #12 on: March 10, 2013, 08:25:07 am »
Quote from: edd666999 on March 10, 2013, 12:07:27 am
Quote from: Mk5 GTian on March 09, 2013, 06:15:59 pm

I'm selling an old laptop, but am concerned that it's future use could be associated with me. Is this something I should be concened about, and if so is there anything I should do to protect myself?

I don't know much about computers, hence my career as an interior decorator! Is the ip address (whatever that is) just connected to your email account or your computer as well?

Thanks for your help,

The Luddite.

For the average buyer of the laptop, re-installing windows on it will stop them getting at anything.

If you sold it to me, if still be able to get at some stuff because i know what im doing.

If you know an I.T based guy he could run a linux live disk and run a program that runs 1's n 0's across the drive in random patters which makes it almost impossible to recover data.

For the average user however 99% of people just re install windows.

Or u could just degauss and destroy the disk with a hammer!!!  :signLOL:
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Offline Mk5 GTian

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Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
« Reply #13 on: March 10, 2013, 08:27:04 am »
Quote from: GrayMK5GTI on March 09, 2013, 07:13:03 pm
Are you worried that someone will find out the websites you have been on and brand you a pervert?  :signLOL:

I don't know WHAT you mean Graeme!!  :signLOL:
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Offline Mk5 GTian

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Re: Selling an old laptop - Any identity issues?
« Reply #14 on: March 10, 2013, 08:29:41 am »
Quote from: Jussa on March 09, 2013, 10:14:53 pm
Quote from: Mk5 GTian on March 09, 2013, 06:46:47 pm
Sorry Camfollower, but what is an HDD?  :confused: :confused: :confused:

 :signLOL: :signLOL:
Sorry Ian but that takes the biscuit, I think even my old dear knows that  :rolleye:

Where do you live, if u were local to me I'd sort it for you  :happy2:

Jussa, I work with paint brushes, rollers, filling knifes, scrapers, sanders, steamers, and papering tables etc etc. How would I know what a HDD is!!! Bloomin' computers, tools of the Devil!  :evilgrin:
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