iTunes Deauthorization

[Bill Bumface]

My laptop was stolen this week and I want to de-authorize it from iTunes just in case. Is there a way to do this?

[FanIn80]

Short version: Call Apple Support: 1-800-263-3394

Long version: There are only two ways to de-auth on your own. One is on the machine in question, through the iTunes menu. The other is on any computer in the world, through your iTunes account. This second option is only available if you've authorized 5 machines in total, though, so it probably won't be applicable to you.

Just give them a call, and they will help you out.

Edit: Your machine being authorized won't allow the thief to purchase things on your account, though. It will just let them watch whatever movies or shows you have on the laptop. The thing I would be scared of, is if you toggled on that little box that says "Don't ask me for my password when I make purchases." Apple won't be able to turn that off for you, and if I were you I would change my iTunes password asap. In fact, I would do that regardless of anything else.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

My laptop was stolen this week and I want to de-authorize it from iTunes just in case. Is there a way to do this?

Wow, that’s brutal. Condolences (unless insurance will cover getting a spiffy new one!)

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Short version: Call Apple Support: 1-800-263-3394

Long version: There are only two ways to de-auth on your own. One is on the machine in question, through the iTunes menu. The other is on any computer in the world, through your iTunes account. This second option is only available if you've authorized 5 machines in total, though, so it probably won't be applicable to you.

Just give them a call, and they will help you out.

Edit: Your machine being authorized won't allow the thief to purchase things on your account, though. It will just let them watch whatever movies or shows you have on the laptop. The thing I would be scared of, is if you toggled on that little box that says "Don't ask me for my password when I make purchases." Apple won't be able to turn that off for you, and if I were you I would change my iTunes password asap. In fact, I would do that regardless of anything else.

I went online and took my credit card off of the account and changed my password as soon as possible just in case. Thanks!

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

Wow, that’s brutal. Condolences (unless insurance will cover getting a spiffy new one!)

The good news, is my Timemachine backup disk which failed about 6 months ago was replaced last week and I had a full backup. I was VERY impressed after the restore to have a total clone of my old environment complete with functioning apps!

The only bad news is the $500 deductible.

The really good news is I was able to leverage a student discount and upgrade from the first gen aluminum 15" MacBook Pro that was the lowest model to the new i7 model for only $49 out of my pocket. And it came with a free printer and 8gb iPod touch which I'm selling to help offset the deductible.

SO relieved about my backups. If my NAS would have been stolen I'd be hooped. I really need to look into something off-site.

[FanIn80]

Awesome. Nice job on the upgrade! Now, if only there was a way to remotely wipe the stolen MBP.

[Bill Bumface]

^I've been thinking of that for the last couple days. Even though there isn't much exciting on there (I got new credit card numbers in case any web forms had them remembered) it really bothers me for some reason that they could be looking through all of my pictures and enjoying my music.

Instead of remote-wipe I think we should skip straight to remote-detonate and send some aluminum shrapnel through the low lifes that have it now.

[FanIn80]

Ha! No kidding.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

SO relieved about my backups. If my NAS would have been stolen I'd be hooped. I really need to look into something off-site.

I've been using Carbonite for my off-site backup. Unlimited backup of all your internal drives for $55 a year. It installs a small program on your computer that takes care of the backup automatically, which is key.

I never use to backup anything with my computer. But after learning how easy it can be to lose everything for good I've gone backup crazy. I back up my whole system to my mirrored NAS and all my documents, pictures, music and soon to be video purchases will be backed up online. Luckily I have never lost anything or had a hard drive fail, but if something happens I shouldn't lose much or anything.

[Barnes]

You can go to any computer with iTunes, go to the Store, go to the Store menu and click View My Account. Log in and from there you can de-authorize all your computers.

You'll just have to re-autohrize all of your existing machines.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Burninator

I've been using Carbonite for my off-site backup. Unlimited backup of all your internal drives for $55 a year. It installs a small program on your computer that takes care of the backup automatically, which is key.

I never use to backup anything with my computer. But after learning how easy it can be to lose everything for good I've gone backup crazy. I back up my whole system to my mirrored NAS and all my documents, pictures, music and soon to be video purchases will be backed up online. Luckily I have never lost anything or had a hard drive fail, but if something happens I shouldn't lose much or anything.

Mozy works well on the Mac too, and is $5 a month for unlimited backup of local drives.

I like Mozy for two reasons:
1. It’s owned by EMC, the 800 pound gorilla in the enterprise storage market

2. They are currently working on the 2.0 release of their software, which will do local as well as cloud backups in one integrated product.