data protection on hard drives (insurance)

something like filemon ?

also isn't it illegal for a techie firm to go scouring through a client's hard drive unless its mandatory for the what they are hired for?
 
agnes said:
This... People get so paranoid haha. The information on your harddrive is yours, it's personal as you say. the company cannot invalidate your claim for wanting privacy.

The function of the hard drive can be tested with it being blank.
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I know nothing of insurance companies, this is the first time I've ever claimed!

:o


Halfmad said:
Most laptops don't have anything preventing the HDD being removed, no seals etc.

Just take it out, wipe it and put it back. They'll be none the wiser, or at the very least securely erase what you'd rather wasn't left on the drive.
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I have no way of doing this unfortunately. :(


ThaReaperGuy said:
Might not want to back up those video's to her laptop then, unless you told her the truth about the suspicious looking camera. :p
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Haha, no fear about that. ;)

Surfer said:
something like filemon ?

also isn't it illegal for a techie firm to go scouring through a client's hard drive unless its mandatory for the what they are hired for?
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I have no idea!
 
I worked for a pc repair firm who were sent faulty machines from stores like curry's and pc world, mostly packard bell, i can tell you that everyone that worked their used to look through the computers documents once they got the computer up and running, and some even decided to take it upon themselves to make a collection of certain pictures they found onto their usb sticks, in one case a guy tried to blackmail a lady after finding pictures of her on her laptop with contact info too. The lady in question was a lawyer, needless to say that guy got sacked and was in a lot of trouble!

This was around 8 years ago though so im sure policies have changed, we were not allowed to look through the hard drives, but it never stopped people from doing it.
 
brightside229 said:
I worked for a pc repair firm who were sent faulty machines from stores like curry's and pc world, mostly packard bell, i can tell you that everyone that worked their used to look through the computers documents once they got the computer up and running, and some even decided to take it upon themselves to make a collection of certain pictures they found onto their usb sticks, in one case a guy tried to blackmail a lady after finding pictures of her on her laptop with contact info too. The lady in question was a lawyer, needless to say that guy got sacked and was in a lot of trouble!

This was around 8 years ago though so im sure policies have changed, we were not allowed to look through the hard drives, but it never stopped people from doing it.
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Lovely.
 
agnes said:
It won't invalidate your claim.

Just mount it up, backup what you need. Pictures and sex vids alike and then delete it from the hdd going to the insurance company.

Done. Takes 10 minutes. Could have done that by now. I imagine you have a pc yes?
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I don't agree with the first bit, if there's a warranty sticker or something over the drive compartment then they could happily tell you you've invalidated the warranty/insurance whatever. You should check for that before you start.

1. Check for seals/stickers over drive compartment
2. Remove drive if not obvious seals (it's worth taking the smallish risk of potential invalidation if you've done a thorough check first)
3. Go out and buy external usb drive enclosure now.
4. Put hard drive in enclosure, back-up and delete sensitive data. Don't wipe the whole drive, that's hassle and also more likely to invalidate stuff. Just delete what you don't awnt people looking at, ideally usually some sort of secure file deletion tool if you're particularly paranoid. Or delete it and then fill up the drive with other inert data and then delete that too.
5. Put drive back in laptop.

If you don't feel you can do this then send the drive to me and I'll take care of it. ;) ;) ;)

Or, tell the insurance company that you need teh drive for urgent work reasons and ask for it to be removed if they take the laptop away, they can fix it without the drive, unless the drive is the problem, then they'll just charge you for replacement and re-install of OS. I'm sure you can get them to agree to this, it's just they'll probably charge you a fair chunk of change for the privilege.
 
httk said:
I don't agree with the first bit, if there's a warranty sticker or something over the drive compartment then they could happily tell you you've invalidated the warranty/insurance whatever. You should check for that before you start.

1. Check for seals/stickers over drive compartment
2. Remove drive if not obvious seals (it's worth taking the smallish risk of potential invalidation if you've done a thorough check first)
3. Go out and buy external usb drive enclosure now.
4. Put hard drive in enclosure, back-up and delete sensitive data. Don't wipe the whole drive, that's hassle and also more likely to invalidate stuff. Just delete what you don't awnt people looking at, ideally usually some sort of secure file deletion tool if you're particularly paranoid. Or delete it and then fill up the drive with other inert data and then delete that too.
5. Put drive back in laptop.

If you don't feel you can do this then send the drive to me and I'll take care of it. ;) ;) ;)

Or, tell the insurance company that you need teh drive for urgent work reasons and ask for it to be removed if they take the laptop away, they can fix it without the drive, unless the drive is the problem, then they'll just charge you for replacement and re-install of OS. I'm sure you can get them to agree to this, it's just they'll probably charge you a fair chunk of change for the privilege.
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bad idea to mention using it for work unless its business insurance. most home insurance policies exclude items used for work purposes.
 
Laptop is now gone, so fingers crossed there isn't a perv at the other end. I'm tempted to ring up, but I'm afraid it will flag something up with them and they'll have to do an investigation to make sure I'm not actually hiding anything.

I'll update on Monday when the laptop should either be fixed/replaced.

P.s what is usually the criteria for a laptop being fixed/replaced? Is it purely an economical issue, or do they like to save the laptop to save environmental issues? :)
 
This is why all my *Ahem* extra bits n bobs are on external drives, if my PC goes the way of the dodo then there's now't on it *nawty* in any way!! :D
 
mrbell1984 said:
Why couldn't you just remove to HDD all together or backup all the files then wipe it properly before giving it to them? I'm a bit confused?
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The guy on the phone said they would need access to the laptop (he wanted me to give him my administrator password) to install things if necessary (eg if they fixed it).

If I had wiped the hard drive, then it would have looked very suspicious, especially as they have not yet actually accepted the claim.

I've never claimed anything before from insurance, and I'm scared of all the internet tales which claim that they will wiggle out of anything. :o
 
Which insurer are you with? I've claimed for 2 different laptops with 2 different insurers and both claims have been quick and painless no trying to wiggle out of anything.
 
jessjess said:
bad idea to mention using it for work unless its business insurance. most home insurance policies exclude items used for work purposes.
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Not at all - if you'd said it was for business then sure, but work can mean almost anything. Working on my novel, working on my coursework, working on building up my forearms with porn, etc etc. :)
 
sports_brah said:
The guy on the phone said they would need access to the laptop (he wanted me to give him my administrator password) to install things if necessary (eg if they fixed it).

If I had wiped the hard drive, then it would have looked very suspicious, especially as they have not yet actually accepted the claim.

I've never claimed anything before from insurance, and I'm scared of all the internet tales which claim that they will wiggle out of anything. :o
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Well what's to say the laptop could have a broken HDD... Too late now... Next time you put a claim in don't forget to get your stuff off before sending... And wipe the files from it....
 
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