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AIBU?

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Original poster

Bought a PC with explicit pictures on it

31 replies

Marketplacemishap · 14/05/2022 22:25

Name changed as I don’t want this linked to my other threads as I’m mortified and posting here for traffic.

Bought a PC off Facebook marketplace earlier today and have just set it up. Seller said it had been fully wiped/reset and everything was fine. PC pretty laggy but nothing we can’t sort. However, there were a number of folders left on the computer and in one of these folders was about 20 more folders, each containing very explicit images of different women - some seem to have been taken by the women and some seem to have been taken by the PC seller of various activities with these women. In some of the folders, there are also mundane images that seem to be like social media profile pictures of the woman in the images. There are also images of his wife. And then just thousands of generic holiday/pet/family snaps and videos but no other apps, files etc left on.

I messaged the seller and said he had left some explicit images on there and he sent crying laughing faces and said he knew and “delete them for fucks sake”. So it seems he’s knowingly sold this PC with these images on. He’s accessed/modified the files including these women’s pictures up until very recently (except the wife’s file).

What do I do?! I keep thinking just delete them all and get on with it but I also think what if his wife doesn’t know he’s clearly engaging in sexual activity with multiple other women? And I feel a bit dodgy owning this PC when the previous owner was very seedy. The lagging could also be down to nefarious use of the PC.

OP posts:
Queenoftheashes · 14/05/2022 22:27

I would delete them and move on with my life

Oscarthedog · 14/05/2022 22:29

Just delete them. It's not your job to normalise about these pictures.

FiveShelties · 14/05/2022 22:31

I would delete them too.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 14/05/2022 22:32

I don't understand the voting, what's the AIBU but if you arent comfortable to keep the PC ask him if he'd be prepared to take it back and refund you

LIZS · 14/05/2022 22:35

Either request he takes it back or delete the folders. He sounds sleazy but once you realised why did you investigate them further.

LubaLuca · 14/05/2022 22:38

If you want the PC then delete the files and forget you ever saw them. Alternatively get him to take it back and refund you (he's not going to argue). Although:

The lagging could also be down to nefarious use of the PC.

What do you mean by this?

Original poster
Marketplacemishap · 14/05/2022 22:40

I investigated further in case there was anything illegal on there! I wouldn’t just delete a load of stuff and keep a PC if it had been used for something illegal. I’m sure you understand what I’m getting at.

and the lagging could be down to the computer having or having had viruses etc from accessing dodgy websites.

OP posts:
AllKnowingGerbil · 14/05/2022 22:43

Delete them and give the keyboard a thorough clean!

EvenMoreFuriousVexation · 14/05/2022 22:44

OK. It clearly hadn't been fully reformatted, so if you want to return it for a refund, ask him.

I suspect given how easy it is to do this that he actually left them there on purpose.

Alternatively, reformat it yourself which would remove any viruses that might be present (and should have been done anyway.)

BingeBitch · 14/05/2022 22:51

If the images aren’t illegal just delete them and antibac the fuck out of the keyboard and mouse.

carefullycourageous · 14/05/2022 22:57

I'd want a refund really, you can evidence it is not sold as described.

IsDaveThere · 14/05/2022 23:05

OMG really? Just reset the PC to factory settings/delete everything and get on with your life!!

twoandcooplease · 14/05/2022 23:08

AllKnowingGerbil · 14/05/2022 22:43

Delete them and give the keyboard a thorough clean!

Great advice. Better yet chuck the keyboard and get your own

BrieAndChilli · 14/05/2022 23:10

Just reformat it back to factory settings. Anything on the pc will be wiped and it will be same as a new one from the shop.

codeVeronica · 14/05/2022 23:11

Sounds like he didn't actually reset it to factory settings. Maybe he didn't know how. Just do a clean wipe and put it out your mind.

Onwards22 · 14/05/2022 23:12

Just delete the photos.

I doubt he left them on there for you to see, he was just embarrassed and acted like he didn’t care.

I don’t think there’s anything seedy about having naked photos on your computer unless they were taken through a window.

Grapewrath · 14/05/2022 23:14

Just wipe them. He made a mistake and didn’t delete them. If you want the PC delete them and if you don’t, return them
his sex life/ porn use is non of your business

SlatsandFlaps · 14/05/2022 23:15

BrieAndChilli · 14/05/2022 23:10

Just reformat it back to factory settings. Anything on the pc will be wiped and it will be same as a new one from the shop.

No it doesn't actually wipe anything from the history of the hard drive. Every picture EVER stored on there, is recoverable - both illegal images or otherwise. This is how Police catch people out!

FatEaredFuck · 14/05/2022 23:17

IsDaveThere · 14/05/2022 23:05

OMG really? Just reset the PC to factory settings/delete everything and get on with your life!!

You really need to do this and you will stop it lagging too.

SlatsandFlaps · 14/05/2022 23:17

@BrieAndChilli This is also the case with mobile phones, just so as you're aware. If you've ever taken a racy pic of yourself and then later erased the phone back to factory settings and sold it on - that racy pic can be accessed by the person who buys it; if they know what they're doing and have the right software

SlatsandFlaps · 14/05/2022 23:23

FGS obviously OP's legitimate concern is the slight possibility that this pc has ever previously been used to access illegal images! As I stated above, resetting to factory settings does NOT erase the images/search history or browsing data from the computer! You're just starting a new slot in the memory.
EVERY IMAGE EVER STORED ON A COMPUTER/TABLET OR SMARTPHONE is recoverable even if the device is restored to factory settings!

OP - What I would do I simply have the hard drive completely replaced. Fairly inexpensive and will give you peace of mind

SlatsandFlaps · 14/05/2022 23:25

SlatsandFlaps · 14/05/2022 23:17

@BrieAndChilli This is also the case with mobile phones, just so as you're aware. If you've ever taken a racy pic of yourself and then later erased the phone back to factory settings and sold it on - that racy pic can be accessed by the person who buys it; if they know what they're doing and have the right software

Even if you've immediately deleted the image and then deleted it from the Deleted Images folder in your album/camera roll - still recoverable!

MissMaple82 · 14/05/2022 23:25

Oh for gods sake just delete them!!

RomeoOscarXrayIndigoEcho · 14/05/2022 23:33

If you reformat the hard drive (or wherever the images are stored) that will delete them beyond recovery.

SlatsandFlaps · 15/05/2022 03:03

RomeoOscarXrayIndigoEcho · 14/05/2022 23:33

If you reformat the hard drive (or wherever the images are stored) that will delete them beyond recovery.

Not beyond police detection though which is the risk. Yes, I know that somebody having had porn on their computer doesn't mean they're a child sex offender but it's that tiny risk that would worry me. If police were to do whatever it is they do to pick these things up (and thank god they can!) then OP could be in the frame.
This is one of the reasons why I'd never buy a secondhand computer or device

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