We purchased a macbook air off craigslist. What do we need to do to make sure it is safe to use short of nuke and pave?
I see remnants of a former owner in the name of the computer in the xp /parallels section.
My concern is something loaded that is "calling home" with my information.
Thanks

Nuke and pave. Why take the risk?

Make it yours, wipe it.

nuke and pave...




...after you extract all "pictures" to your collection of course.

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"So be proud to be a decent American instead of just a w'anker whipping up fear!" - Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland

It's unanimous; N&P- you bought it, now own it.

Create a new admin user, then delete the other one.

Everything that was on their side is gone.

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The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs [www.fakesteve.net]

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jdc
Create a new admin user, then delete the other one.

Everything that was on their side is gone.

I don't believe that is true. You can install software on the system that would remain after only deleting the user. Nuke and pave is the only way.

If they're sophisticated enough to install any sort of tracking/logging software, they would not have tied it to a user account. I think realistically the chances of there being residual malware like that are very very small, especially on a MBA, but I'd nuke and pave anyway.

N&P, then celebrate with H&B.

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rexs
We purchased a macbook air off craigslist. What do we need to do to make sure it is safe to use short of nuke and pave?

It's neither safe nor possibly reliable to use unless you nuke'n'pave.

Do it.

It would PROBABLY be OK, but a nuke and pave is so easy at this stage (and such a pain in the butt later) that why would you NOT?

There is some small chance that someone might have installed some malicious widget with "root" permissions in the system someplace. Unlikely, but possible.
That's why it's just easier to blast it clean down to bare bedrock, and start with a shiny new install.

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Paul F.
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A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca c. 5 BC - 65 AD
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Good is the enemy of Excellent. Talent is not necessary for Excellence.
Persistence is necessary for Excellence. And Persistence is a Decision.
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Eureka, CA

OK OK
Watch for the mushroom cloud over my house tonight.
I have rarely seen any question asked that has generated such agreement.

Is this also the proper cure for the current political environment?

"It would PROBABLY be OK, but a nuke and pave is so easy at this stage (and such a pain in the butt later) that why would you NOT?

There is some small chance that someone might have installed some malicious widget with "root" permissions in the system someplace. Unlikely, but possible.
That's why it's just easier to blast it clean down to bare bedrock, and start with a shiny new install."

I agree. This is also a good time to give the used drive a good checking out, before you commit to it 100%

rexs.. nuke and pave has always been a good choice. Alternatively nuke 'em till they glow, then shoot 'em in the dark works as well.