Is used computer safe to use without nuke and pave?

[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?
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

[DRR]

Nuke and pave. Why take the risk?

[mstudio]

Make it yours, wipe it.

[davester]

nuke and pave...




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

[Buzz]

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

[jdc]

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

Everything that was on their side is gone.

[DRR]

jdc wrote:
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.

[Lew Zealand]

N&P, then celebrate with H&B.

[Article Accelerator]

rexs wrote:
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.

[Paul F.]

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.