That's a really hard question. What I would do would not get myself into that situation.  I would not be opening files randomly on the computer.  Perhaps ask the client before hand where I should do file tests.  And respect the persons privacy above all.

What if you fixed what was wrong and CP stuff popped up open on the desk top when you powered on the laptop.  Would you not report it?

They are not related like that at all. That would be like if you took your classified laptop to get repaired for some reason and the tech there snooped.  Its a private matter.  Not work.  When I go to work I know there's no privacy I am not using my own equipment or network.  When I am at home I expect privacy.  When I engage a business to fix my laptop I expect privacy.  Its all about motive not the end result.  I admit in this case technically everything is legal assuming he actually made effort to return the laptop.  It can be used as evidence.  From the information I read. Though the way it was gathered in the first point was very unethical.  He should of not looked at the data in the first place,  Clearly at that point he was snooping, he was not in good faith testing to see if things worked. If he waited till after it was his property then that's fine.

How do you know when the info was discovered? What if the tech found it after claiming rights on abandoned property.  Wouldn't that make it all OK and not snooping anymore.  The Tech was looking at his newly owned laptop.

What if you fixed what was wrong and CP stuff popped up open on the desk top when you powered on the laptop.  Would you not report it?

In that case yes I would.  Unless it appears it was a virus causing that. 

How do you know when the info was discovered? What if the tech found it after claiming rights on abandoned property.  Wouldn't that make it all OK and not snooping anymore.  The Tech was looking at his newly owned laptop.

He did an interview which he said what he did.  And he said he saw it and did things before it became this property.  If it was done after I would have no problem with it.

What do you mean in bold?   If hunter picked up the laptop would you still want him to give the information up?

5th amendment about self incrimination. 

What he means is if someone else sees something criminal, they have a duty to report it to the authorities.

What do you mean fear? I believe the justice system serves a purpose.  But it must respect the laws. 

As for the landlord I believe would lean yes I would expect privacy for the individual.

And therein lies the problem.

There is no law that supports your "leaning".  There's an "In plain sight" exception to the privacy rule.  If you opened his top dresser drawer to see the (let's say) drugs, then it would be up to a jury to decide whether that constituted a privacy violation, being that he's the landlord.  Otherwise, leaving the drugs out in plain sight negates his claim of privacy knowing you were coming to fix the faucet.

Once again, only YOU can protect your privacy.  Don't want it seen, don't stupidly leave it where someone can see it.

That's a really hard question. What I would do would not get myself into that situation.  I would not be opening files randomly on the computer.  Perhaps ask the client before hand where I should do file tests.  And respect the persons privacy above all.

Those are all policy decisions made by a private business owner.

Stop trying to argue for your policies to be forced upon all business owners by the government.

He did an interview which he said what he did.  And he said he saw it and did things before it became this property.  If it was done after I would have no problem with it.

Got it. Thanks

And therein lies the problem.

There is no law that supports your "leaning".  There's an "In plain sight" exception to the privacy rule.  If you opened his top dresser drawer to see the (let's say) drugs, then it would be up to a jury to decide whether that constituted a privacy violation, being that he's the landlord.  Otherwise, leaving the drugs out in plain sight negates his claim of privacy knowing you were coming to fix the faucet.

Once again, only YOU can protect your privacy.  Don't want it seen, don't stupidly leave it where someone can see it.

I guess we can boil it down to ethics. Just like the abortion argument. We just have different values and opinions.

In that case yes I would.  Unless it appears it was a virus causing that.

Appears?

You wouldn't know it was a virus without investigating and analyzing the pics.  Are you willing to spend that time without compensation?  You weren't asked to do that.  You'd have to get approval first if you want to go further and get paid for it.

You really think if you call a pedo about pictures you need to look deeper into, he'll say, "Sure!  Whatever you need to do!" ??   

I guess we can boil it down to ethics. Just like the abortion argument. We just have different values and opinions.

Ethics?  Based on what?  Morals?  Whose morals?  Religion?  Some unnamed ethical standards that are decided on by the company?

When it comes to information, the only ethics are those that are dictated by the customer and offered by the business.  Everything else is up for grabs.

My ethical compass says the owner had a duty to report child porn.  The fact he preserved a copy before handing it to the FBI shows he's also not a blind sheeple who still believes the FBI is nonpartisan and trustworthy.

He's a hero in my book.  You're putting yourself in Hunter's position, not the repair shop owner's.  That says much.

Omni,

If someone hired you to fix their computer because liquid was spilled on it, would you not open any folders or programs to double check it works correctly?  Or do you just do what you think needs to be done and not test anything?

Appears?

You wouldn't know it was a virus without investigating and analyzing the pics.  Are you willing to spend that time without compensation?  You weren't asked to do that.  You'd have to get approval first if you want to go further and get paid for it.

You really think if you call a pedo about pictures you need to look deeper into, he'll say, "Sure!  Whatever you need to do!" ??   

You are experienced with computers.... if a massive amount of pop-ups of illegal stuff loads and spams on boot that's probably a virus and not some sicko.  Wtf regular computer does that?   Fuck investigating that would ruin my psychology, I would turn it off say you have a virus or something I'm not willing to delve into.  Go to the FBI of you want to salvage data. 

Omni,

If someone hired you to fix their computer because liquid was spilled on it, would you not open any folders or programs to double check it works correctly?  Or do you just do what you think needs to be done and not test anything?

I would fix it,  and ask for permission to test.  Hey can I check for files in x location to test or would you rather you test and let me know. 

Ethics?  Based on what?  Morals?  Whose morals?  Religion?  Some unnamed ethical standards that are decided on by the company?

When it comes to information, the only ethics are those that are dictated by the customer and offered by the business.  Everything else is up for grabs.

My ethical compass says the owner had a duty to report child porn.  The fact he preserved a copy before handing it to the FBI shows he's also not a blind sheeple who still believes the FBI is nonpartisan and trustworthy.

He's a hero in my book.  You're putting yourself in Hunter's position, not the repair shop owner's.  That says much.

Nope my morals are not powered by religion. It's there even a religion based on freedom?

Mine is partly on the Constitution, which clearly values freedom and privacy.

The fact that even fox News said he specifically looked for sex videos with hunter and is proud Republican should offer insight into his motives. 

I put myself in trumps shoes when he got his taxes illegally leaked what does that say?   Ends doesn't make the means.

I would fix it,  and ask for permission to test.  Hey can I check for files in x location to test or would you rather you test and let me know.

We all know Hunter is a crackhead.  So I'm gonna say if the shop did offer that explanation, either prior to doing any work or after to test, he said yes. Crackhead doing crackhead things.

As a non IT person, if I bring in something to fix, I expect you to fix it and test to make sure everything is working.  I don't expect a call to ask permission to do X or Y.  But then again, I do nothing illegal so I got nothing to hide.  And I do banking, Amazon, etc... and such on my computer, so there is already a level of trust between us, or I would not have that place fix my computer. 

You are experienced with computers.... if a massive amount of pop-ups of illegal stuff loads and spams on boot that's probably a virus and not some sicko.  Wtf regular computer does that?   Fuck investigating that would ruin my psychology, I would turn it off say you have a virus or something I'm not willing to delve into.  Go to the FBI of you want to salvage data.

Massive pop-ups?  That's the only way viruses behave?  I was unaware.

I've cleaned hundreds of PCs with massive infestations of viruses.  80% could be cleaned in a few days with no trace left.  Other's needed to be reloaded because there could be no risk of it remaining.  That meant reinstalling every PC workstation and server on the network.

Most viruses don't do pop-ups.  They wait silently, and the only way you know they are there is if you do a scan -- manually or automatically. 

Stop pretending to lecture me.  My years of experience stack up well against any hypotheticals you can conjure up.

What you would CHOOSE to do is not any kind of "standard."  Individuals choose for themselves how far they will go into a disk.  Perhaps the drive has important data for which there is no back up?  The customer may want it recovered. 

If you offer PC services and are unwilling to do work on a virus-infected PC with NO CLUE about the nature of the virus, then you are not a repair shop owner.  You're just a guy who knows about computers and is willing to do routine remedies for people who don't understand PCs.

This is the sad state of America.

Yes, YOU ARE the sad state of America. The facts don’t care about your feelings. And no one here does either. Give up the feeling BS and talk to everyone based ONLY on truth and the facts. Grow up. 🤦‍♂️

We all know Hunter is a crackhead.  So I'm gonna say if the shop did offer that explanation, either prior to doing any work or after to test, he said yes. Crackhead doing crackhead things.

As a non IT person, if I bring in something to fix, I expect you to fix it and test to make sure everything is working.  I don't expect a call to ask permission to do X or Y.  But then again, I do nothing illegal so I got nothing to hide.  And I do banking, Amazon, etc... and such on my computer, so there is already a level of trust between us, or I would not have that place fix my computer.

Not saying I would call for every single folder.  I would just be upfront, When you give me the laptop,  I'll just be frank.  Hey do you want me to check your files to make sure its all fixed,  if you say yes I just mention ok I'll open some documents on desktop and my documents.  That's it.  If you say you will do the check that's cool.  That's your privacy.  I am guessing they did not have that level of trust, cause doubt he went there before and well clearly that dude was nosy as fuck. 

Nope my morals are not powered by religion. It's there even a religion based on freedom?

Mine is partly on the Constitution, which clearly values freedom and privacy.

The fact that even fox News said he specifically looked for sex videos with hunter and is proud Republican should offer insight into his motives. 

I put myself in trumps shoes when he got his taxes illegally leaked what does that say?   Ends doesn't make the means.

You should start one.  OGinianity