What to do with found pr0n

[superdave1984]

So a co-worker brings me her computer because she's getting pop-ups and other crap. No big deal, I can clean it up just fine. Which I did. She mentioned that some pop-ups were for umm...adult content sites. So she asked if there was pr0n on her computer.
Well I don't know, but I can get rid of it if there is.
OK.
Cleaned it up, got rid of some crap and malware. Then.......well.......there were a couple of home shot videos. No faces in them, but it didn't look like her. She freaked when I told her about them and said for me to delete them. Which I did. Emptied the recycle bin and deleted some other useless shortcuts and emptied the bin again. So now she's really upset about the vids. Granted there wasn't much to see as far as identifying anybody, but now she's wondering who and where. Were they made at her house? On her computer? Who was it? After explaining repeatedly that you didn't get to see any faces, only the umm....business areas. She's still freaked out. The files were put there back in April according to the properties. She doesn't suspect her hubby, but she does suspect the people who she gets to house sit when she's gone on vacation. So now I feel bad for saying anything. Should I have just deleted the files and said nothing? She DID ask.

 

[Kharn]

Total disclosure she asked for the information - this can lead to serious charges being brought for abusing trust and I am sure there might be somthing with the DMCA (there always is) about adult material on a computer that you do not own.

Did you clone the drive dave or did you just delete the data? as if she found out who it was and decided to take them to court you could be asked to give evidence and if you deleted it you might be liable for evidence tampering.

 

[superdave1984]

No, I just deleted the files. She was standing right next to me when I showed them to her. She did not want to view the vids however. I didn't delete until she said to.

 

[Poizen22]

sounds like it was probably her in the video, and was hoping you wouldnt find it. that is the only reason i can think of her not wanting to see it seems very odd. even the fact that she asked abotu it maybe beign there before you whent to work on it. imo you cant be sure its not her unless youve seen here naked. so dont rule tthat out, by the sounds of her reaction it was her, she didnt want to see it, as in whatch it with you or anything for you to link to her. and asked for it to be deleted, came up with a fishy way to blame soem one else, story over. this is kind of a funny story.

 

[mikesgroovin]

Yea, I agree to a point. It's not your concern who/what/where/why. It isn't illegal ... so, unless it's child abuse, murder, etc... dont worry about it.

As far as you are concerned, the job is dine. If she wants additional questions answered, point her to a computer forensics company. There are plenty of them out there and they deal with legal/porn cases all of the time... sometimes worse. When dealing with sensitive material like this, the worst thing you can do is anything but what the client asked you to do. So, dont take a backup or anything like that unless they ask you to. Even though the files were removed, they can still be recompiled and recovered. IMO, keep it out of your hands.

 

[Kharn]

Your probably safe form a legal standpoint then dave if it went that far anyhow. She probably just didn't want to see them on a personal standpoint I know some people are sensitive about that kind of adult material.

Dave just write a written report and file it away some ware with all the facts you can recall to cover your arse from a legal standpoint, if this was on a works laptop I would file a official report stating the facts and to cover this womans back side I would ask her to do the same, As you mentioned she uses people to sit her house while she is away she might have a road of enquiery to find the culprit as you say she dose not suspect her husband. Other than herself or her husband dose any one else have acess to this laptop on a regular basis?

 

[mikesgroovin]

Dave just write a written report and file it away some ware with all the facts you can recall to cover your arse from a legal standpoint

...And1

 

[Poizen22]

you say she dose not suspect her husband. Other than herself or her husband

another thing that made me wonder did she maybe not want to see the video in fear that it is her husband?but wouldnt openly admit it as it is quite embaresing to tell some one your significant other is havign an affair, maybe she is afraid to find out.

 

[Harper]

This thread is useless with out pics!!!

Oh wait you deleted them.


Is this her work computer or home computer. (IE who paid for it? Herself or company?)
If this is her work computer, then she really had not right to complain as work is no place for porn on hard drive.

 

[ricanflow]

another thing that made me wonder did she maybe not want to see the video in fear that it is her husband?but wouldnt openly admit it as it is quite embaresing to tell some one your significant other is havign an affair, maybe she is afraid to find out.

Yeah sounds fishy to me.

Could have even been her with someone else.