I have this old Mac desktop from work that's been sitting unused in my closet for about three years. My company gave me a new one, and no one has asked for the old one back. I'm pretty sure they've forgotten about it and don't mind. I'm wondering if I can reset it to factory settings and use it for personal stuff. Would they even know if I did that, or would it trigger any alerts? Also, how can I check if they're monitoring the device?
5 Answers
It really depends on whether the Mac is linked to their systems, like in an Apple Business Manager account. If you reset it and it asks for work credentials during setup, that’s a dead giveaway they’re monitoring it. You can check by trying to set it up offline first.
Before you do anything, remember that if your employer has set it up with monitoring software, they could definitely know if you try to reset it. My advice is to do a full factory install, but make sure it’s not connected to the internet when you do it to avoid detection.
I wouldn’t just assume they’ve forgotten or don’t care. The computer still belongs to your company, so it’s best to confirm with them first. Just let them know you have the old Mac and ask what they want you to do with it. They might let you keep it, or at least tell you how to safely handle it.
From an InfoSec perspective, tampering with a company device can lead to serious issues. If they really wanted to, they could find out. Just ask them if you could keep it – it’s free and could save you a lot of trouble.
It’s best to check with your company first before doing anything. If you think they don’t care, ask if you can have it. You shouldn’t be looking for ways to keep it without their consent; that just feels wrong.
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