Pondering "Big Brother" (Apple servers) regarding NVRAM/PRAM reset

[mr_skeeter]

First of all....Im using my Dell desktop connected to a MODEM via ethernet....so there is ABSOLUTLELY no other wifi signals in my immediate space (my router is disconnected and unplugged).....
I performed 2 separate NVRAM/PRAM resets on my 2009 iMac 27inch.....unplugged from wall outlet for 15-minutes between each reset as well...
Booted iMac from scrubbed/formatted internal HDD....it is mounting and running from recovery.
Typed the command "date" into terminal utility....
It reported the EXACT TIME compared to my fully connected Dell desktop....less 3 hours for the time zone.
How the hell does it know the correct time??? Internal battery??? And if so.....how long before this computer will "forget" all of the User specific data inside of the chips????

 

[TwoH]

Probably using a real-time clock.

 

[MacUser2525]

First of all....Im using my Dell desktop connected to a MODEM via ethernet....so there is ABSOLUTLELY no other wifi signals in my immediate space (my router is disconnected and unplugged).....
I performed 2 separate NVRAM/PRAM resets on my 2009 iMac 27inch.....unplugged from wall outlet for 15-minutes between each reset as well...
Booted iMac from scrubbed/formatted internal HDD....it is mounting and running from recovery.
Typed the command "date" into terminal utility....
It reported the EXACT TIME compared to my fully connected Dell desktop....less 3 hours for the time zone.
How the hell does it know the correct time??? Internal battery??? And if so.....how long before this computer will "forget" all of the User specific data inside of the chips????

Normally when the battery dies which in my experience with these things will be a long time. In 40+ years of using computers I have had to replace a cmos battery a couple of times. If it bothers you so much that it has the correct time still set then use that date command to set an incorrect for your area one.

 

[mr_skeeter]

Normally when the battery dies which in my experience with these things will be a long time. In 40+ years of using computers I have had to replace a cmos battery a couple of times. If it bothers you so much that it has the correct time still set then use that date command to set an incorrect for your area one.

lol....yeah i get it
I'm just adjusting to Apple equipment.....so, when everyone tells you that you can totally "wipe" a system and erase ALL previous User input/data or whatever you wanna call it...apparently that little internal battery is keeping a HUGE plethora of information on the chips!
I'm just the type of person that once I RESET some device, no matter what the heck it is, it better damn well be reset to a point that is totally fresh and new!

 

[pmiles]

Apple saves some of your device settings to the Cloud... so even if you lobotomize your system, your Apple ID will repopulate some saved data when reconnecting to the internet.

The only sure fire way to remove all traces of your activities on a computer (assuming you never connected it to an external network in your life) would be to physically destroy it.

The good news is, most people can't be bothered with the time and effort to recover data from a system unless they know that it is there in the first place.

 

[DeltaMac]

The NVRAM/PRAM (backup) battery is on the logic board. You have to remove the logic board to get access to that battery (the battery holder is on the backside of the logic board on your 2009 iMac.)
So, you can remove the battery, then (strong suggestion: don't do this unless you know what you are doing) short across the battery holder contacts, which will absolutely clear all settings maintained by the battery, such as the system time.
And, not worth doing, unless you are actually having a problem. That battery is more than 10 years old, so might be worth the effort to replace with a fresh battery.

 

[rpmurray]

You will probably run into some problems trying to locate the chip that the NSA has Apple install that sends them all your data.