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Should serial numbers be removed from questions?

https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View/4520...

Doesn't that allow you to access private info or something sometimes?

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

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OP's phone number, Email address & system S/N's should be scrubbed. Company contact info for product support is OK (major companies Apple, HP, IBM ...)

If the OP failed to properly ID his system then before you remove the S/N post it in EveryMac so you can correctly ID the system and then alter the product.

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In some cases, the S/N can identify the owner of the system. This isn't always the case, but with a lot of business systems (and all Dell systems), that's how they identify the system owner. In the case of this post, I scrubbed the S/N and edited the system to correctly reflect the question.

Because you don't know for sure, it's better to remove it as a blanket rule. This is even a good call for systems you use to show users how to find the S/N on if you choose to do it. You don't need to expose your system's S/N to help someone find it. You can point out the location of the S/N without exposing yours. Take the picture, remove the S/N and post it.

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2 Comments:

Is that why some refurbished/open box products come with the serial number covered in sharpie? I bought a wireless mouse and keyboard like that from a store that sells computers and computer parts.

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I genuinely doubt a keyboard has it's owner tracked with the S/N. The manufacturer probably did it so you can't file warranty against it.

Printers and computers... The owner is probably registered with the S/N.

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Aiden will be eternally grateful.