[neilv]

I used to salvage a lot of discarded PCs (use the parts, refurbish, etc.).

I quickly decided on a rule to immediately wipe any hard drive, and destroy any drive that couldn't be wiped.

One reason is that I'd been involved in some early online privacy discussions, so I had an awareness that snooping might be invasive.

But if curiosity might tempt me to rationalize away the nagging sense of possible invasiveness, there was a second reason...

I never wanted to technically be in possession of, say, a private photo that a 17.9 year-old took. Nor ever see anything worse than that. Thus, immediately pull and DBAN/destroy any hard drive.

Given that I eventually salvaged around 100 PCs, the private photos scenario didn't seem too unlikely.

[MerelyMortal]

Depending when you did this, it's possible you destroyed private keys to BTC. I always check any discarded computer I come across for that reason, before wiping.

[tonyedgecombe]

What would you do if you found some, steal the BTC?

[neilv]

Great ethics question. At least two variables:

* Can the owner be found?

* Does the owner have control of another copy?

The second question makes the rationalization harder: "Aw, shucks, no way I can find the owner, and no sense letting BTC go to waste."

[MerelyMortal]

If the computer was discarded, I wouldn't consider it stealing. However would I feel like I had a duty to return it to it's previous owner or heirs? It depends on the circumstances. I have not taken/stolen significant sums of money in the past for moral reasons.

I don't think your comment should have been downvoted as it is thought-provoking, but it might have been downvoted since I said "discarded", and thus taking it wouldn't be stealing.