Selling a Mac? Be sure to log out of all Apple services first

Anyone thinking of selling an old Mac computer should take a few steps first to ensure that no trace of their identity remains on the machine. — dpa

Before you sell a Macbook or iMac, you should log out of all active Apple services on the device, Apple advises.

The first step is a complete data backup – OS X and macOS offer the Time Machine program so that you can easily back up all data to an external hard drive.

Once you've done that, you should not only sign out of iTunes but also remove the computer from the list of your authorised devices. In iTunes, this option can be found under Account > Authorizations.

Next, you should sign out of iCloud. This can be done under System Preferences. Your data will remain in iCloud and on any other devices you've signed into using an Apple ID.

Users of OS X Version 10.7 (Mountain Lion) or higher should also log out of iMessage. You can do this in the Messages app under Preferences > Accounts.

An optional next step is to de-register any paired Bluetooth devices such as keyboards, mice and trackpads to avoid accidental input if the computer and the devices will still be within range of each other. This option can be found in System Preferences > Bluetooth under the Apple menu.

The final step is to reformat the hard drive and reinstall the operating system. After that, the computer is ready for transfer to a new owner. — dpa