Apple Retail Secrets Leaked to Customer in Hard Drive Switch

A person who took their Mac in for repairs at an Apple retail store was handed a hard drive containing an Apple Retail Store server Time Machine backup disk with secret internal documents.

Dating from late 2009 to May 2011, the files on the disc included “confidential docs, internal manuals, Apple’s sales technics, an Apple store work checklist, products layout, time schedules, pictures and videos of Apple corporate activities that only Apple employees can see, videos of store meetings, business structure and much much much more,” the person said.

The volumes were called “/Volumes/apple store/Backups.backupdb/teamserver/2009-11-23-095346/HD1/Server Users” & “/Volumes/apple store/Backups.backupdb/teamserver/2011-05-18-141707/HD1/Users/admin”, he also said.

“I always wondered what went on behind that big doors on the back of Apple Store,” the customer said.

Similarly to last year’s prototype iPhone 4 leak, the ‘tipster’ reportedly aimed to sell the hard drive to the technology media, namely Mac-centric blog Cultofmac.

The blog turned down the offer and even advised the person to take the drive back.

The tipster, for his part, declined to take the drive back to Apple, even when the blog offered to facilitate the exchange to take the weight of his shoulders.

At least we know Gizmodo won’t be accepting the hardware, even if the tipster offers it for free.

As avid Softpedia readers surely know, those who step on Apple’s toes this way eventually get called up by the police, have their house searched, etc.

For example, two people are still undergoing legal scrutiny for selling a prototype iPhone to the aforementioned media outlet last year. At least one of them may do 1 year of prison time if found guilty.

They’ve both pleaded not guilty and are waiting for the Court to make their next move. Technology-site Gizmodo, however, was able to dodge legal charges.