Man buys "new" HDD filled with pirated movies, malware

[beer]

In what is a big mistake for the retailer, an Australian documentary maker Darryl Mason bought a hard drive labelled as new to find it filled with pirated movies and malware. According to The Age, nationwide tech retailer Dick Smith sold Mason a (supposedly) brand new external 1.5 TB drive for AU$129 that was filled with said questionable material, and apparently caused the corruption of some of his movie footage stored on his laptop’s hard drive.

For some reason the hard drive was labelled as new by Dick Smith, who have since apologized and admitted that they sell returned, or effectively second-hand hard drives as “new”. In this case, the retailer stupidly forgot to wipe the disk after it was returned, and so Mason discovered nine pirated movies on a disk that only registered as 30 GB.

Mason, who was filming a documentary at the time, hoped to back up his footage to the hard drive he had bought, but the hard drive also appeared to be loaded with malware as it caused the corruption of up to 6 hours of footage stored on the laptop. The laptop had never been connected to the internet, and Mason said the feeling of having his footage lost due to the incident was “absolutely sickening.”

This kind of thing really should not be happening. Not only should Dick Smith have actually wiped the drive, but they should have informed the buyer that the disk may have been used previously, as even if the disk had been wiped after the return, he could potentially have discovered files through data recovery programs.

If you ever purchase a hard drive from a store, we highly recommend you check it to make sure they haven't sold you an already used drive.

(

source)

I am not familiar with the law in Austrilia but the man should have sued the retailer for damages.

#1: Scamming customers by selling used products and labeling them as new.

#2: Selling products filled with malware that resulted in damage and loss of customer property.

Besides taking your money and not shipping the goods, this type of scam is got to be the worst.

:thumbsdown:

[mrsmith]

Id say that this was a bonus. Get a new drive, take off the movies you want and maybe a trojan or two for someone "special" (it is Christmas time ya know), Then "zero-fill", partition and format.

[kmr1684]

Id say that this was a bonus. Get a new drive, take off the movies you want and maybe a trojan or two for someone "special" (it is Christmas time ya know), Then "zero-fill", partition and format.

dude i think he (mason) is the kind of guy hates pirating becoz of he is doing documentry work so i guess :P

[Alanon]

Same thing has happened in my country. Only here, you can't even sue. -.-

[myidisbb]

and he didnt notice the movies and data beforehand? his anti virus and malware didnt notice anything before hand? this guy is iether a complete idiot that shouldnt have accuse to a computer or is lying

[GRiM]

this guy is iether a complete idiot that shouldnt have accuse to a computer or is lying

lol

This coming from the guy who cant even spell "either" or "access" correctly?!?!

[mrsmith]

this guy is iether a complete idiot that shouldnt have accuse to a computer or is lying

lol

This coming from the guy who cant even spell "either" or "access" correctly?!?!

lol

[myidisbb]

this guy is iether a complete idiot that shouldnt have accuse to a computer or is lying

lol

This coming from the guy who cant even spell "either" or "access" correctly?!?!

quick typing and typos. k m a. you understood what i was typing though

[ghost]

Things could be worse. I have bought a refurbished computer from a store, that had all information from previous owner. I mean everything was still in there, resumes, music, home video, tax info, and a bunch of other stuff. I brought it back to the store then the Manager tells me to just format & re-install Windows. He refused me a refund because refurbished items are "final" sale. WTF, seriously the guy's info and was in my system. I could have stolen the guy's identity or worse the guy could have Child porn or possibly blueprints to making bombs for all I know. I could have been sent to jail for no reason, because the stuff was on my computer.

Seriously guys, sometimes it's not worth it to save a few dollars.

[myidisbb]

so if it didnt have an installed recovery file you would had to legally buy an OEM and find all the other drivers for it. not much of a refurbished comptuer if they didnt put a clen OS on :P states?

[beer]

this guy is iether a complete idiot that shouldnt have accuse to a computer or is lying

lol

This coming from the guy who cant even spell "either" or "access" correctly?!?!

:lol:

I usually don't laugh at spelling or grammer mistakes, but myidisbb i think you set yourself up for that one right there.

:rofl:

[ghost]

so if it didnt have an installed recovery file you would had to legally buy an OEM and find all the other drivers for it. not much of a refurbished comptuer if they didnt put a clen OS on :P states?

It did have a recovery console. Refurbished computers may not always be an OS or software problem, sometimes it's a faulty hardware. I do not know what the exact previous problem was. All I know was that I bought a used/refurbished computer with previous owners info and data still in it.

Besides anyone that has a good working knowledge of computers knows that even after formatting the data is still recoverable; Unless it was securely cleaned.

The point I was making is that things could have been worse for myself and the guy in the article.

[beer]

@ ghost

It was unfortunate and very unprofessional for that store to sell you a computer in that condiiton and to tell you to just format it yourself(unless they made you sign a waiver beforehand). But buying a refurbished product is not the same as buying a refurbished product label as "new." The latter involves fraud to scam customers

With recertified/refurbished products, one often assume:

• products is used
  
• usually comes with less warranty
  
• may have some physical wear/tear
  
• may have been damaged and repaired
  

Terms and conditions vary from store to store but one should never pay full price for a refurb product.

[myidisbb]

the store could at least deleted the account and clean up the downloaded stuff. :P

[ghost]

@ ghost

It was unfortunate and very unprofessional for that store to sell you a computer in that condiiton and to tell you to just format it yourself(unless they made you sign a waiver beforehand). But buying a refurbished product is not the same as buying a refurbished product label as "new." The latter involves fraud to scam customers

With recertified/refurbished products, one often assume:

• products is used
  
• usually comes with less warranty
  
• may have some physical wear/tear
  
• may have been damaged and repaired
  

Terms and conditions vary from store to store but one should never pay full price for a refurb product.

Yes, You are absolutely correct in saying refurbished is not the same as saying it's new. I never once said it was. However, both stories have 1 thing in common and that is previous owners data still in the Hard Drive being sold. I was simply relating this story to mine, and to discuss the possible dangers of not having drives properly sanitized for resale. This sort of unethical practice must stop.

:cheers:

[myidisbb]

in the usa refurbished means there may be dents and scratches but it is in working order. having malware is not :P

[ghost]

in the usa refurbished means there may be dents and scratches but it is in working order. having malware is not :P

In Canada dents & scratches are referred to as "Damaged" often sold at a slightly reduced/discounted rate. However, if a component is damaged then repaired then it's called "refurbished." Then If something used/refurbished being sold as new is called "Fraud." ;) :P :lol:

[Mo Husen]

When buying secondhand or "as new" hard drive/pc, one should ensure the hard drive is cleaned and re-formatted before use. Otherwise, one can get buggered and end up with HIV. :lol:

HIV = Harmful Invasive Virus

[mrsmith]

Id say that this was a bonus. Get a new drive, take off the movies you want and maybe a trojan or two for someone "special" (it is Christmas time ya know), Then "zero-fill", partition and format.

dude i think he (mason) is the kind of guy hates pirating becoz of he is doing documentry work so i guess :P

I bet if he seen a movie on that HDD that he'd been wanting to see he'd watch it. :D All the Saints are dead.

[ghost]

When buying secondhand or "as new" hard drive/pc, one should ensure the hard drive is cleaned and re-formatted before use. Otherwise, one can get buggered and end up with HIV. :lol:

HIV = Harmful Invasive Virus

Find me a store in anywhere in the world that will let me open the box, inside their store, so I can setup the system and check. :lol: Isn't that like telling a girl to go get an STD test before you would date her? How has that worked out for you? :P

PS: Not trying to be rude, but come on man!!! seriously???

[beer]

@ ghost

It was unfortunate and very unprofessional for that store to sell you a computer in that condiiton and to tell you to just format it yourself(unless they made you sign a waiver beforehand). But buying a refurbished product is not the same as buying a refurbished product label as "new." The latter involves fraud to scam customers

With recertified/refurbished products, one often assume:

• products is used
  
• usually comes with less warranty
  
• may have some physical wear/tear
  
• may have been damaged and repaired
  

Terms and conditions vary from store to store but one should never pay full price for a refurb product.

Yes, You are absolutely correct in saying refurbished is not the same as saying it's new. I never once said it was. However, both stories have 1 thing in common and that is previous owners data still in the Hard Drive being sold. I was simply relating this story to mine, and to discuss the possible dangers of not having drives properly sanitized for resale. This sort of unethical practice must stop.

:cheers:

To clarify my point: Knowingly buying a refurbished product is not(and can't be) worse than being a victim of fraud and getting scammed. People who knowingly took the risk to buy refurbished bought by choice, whereas victims of fraud had no choice in the matter.

• Retailers that label products as "new" bares the responsibility to sell the products in the same original packaging and state as they were made by the manufacturer.

• With refurbished products:

1. When someone sells a used computer, the purchasing side usually declares zero-responsibility for your data after the point of sale(in which the seller usually signs a waiver), therefore it is the seller's responsibility to wipe their own data.
   
2. Refurbished/Recertified/Used products conditions vary from store to store, and if one of the conditions is the product is sold in As-Is condition for a bargain price, then the business bares no responsibility for the condition of the item.
   

• However, seller of refurb products is in the wrong and should be held accountable if:

1. You had paid them a fee to wipe your data at the point of sale(or if they agree to do it for free) and they didn't,
   
2. They claimed that the used product has been restored to factory-like condition and was not.
   
3. They falsify the physical/working condition of the product.
   

Based on the details you provided earlier, it didn't seems like they did anything wrong. The risk assoicated with buying reurb products is part of getting the "discount price."

I do agree, however, that buying certain refurb products and from certain stores is just not worth it.

:cheers:

[myidisbb]

shot on a military post you can walk around the day before trash day and end up finding a lot of computers. in laptops begin thrown out. at one time on post i had 80 cps and a shit laod of monitors :P i fix some so could pay older games on. got rid of them all. place them outside on the crube

[ghost]

@ ghost

It was unfortunate and very unprofessional for that store to sell you a computer in that condiiton and to tell you to just format it yourself(unless they made you sign a waiver beforehand). But buying a refurbished product is not the same as buying a refurbished product label as "new." The latter involves fraud to scam customers

With recertified/refurbished products, one often assume:

• products is used
  
• usually comes with less warranty
  
• may have some physical wear/tear
  
• may have been damaged and repaired
  

Terms and conditions vary from store to store but one should never pay full price for a refurb product.

Yes, You are absolutely correct in saying refurbished is not the same as saying it's new. I never once said it was. However, both stories have 1 thing in common and that is previous owners data still in the Hard Drive being sold. I was simply relating this story to mine, and to discuss the possible dangers of not having drives properly sanitized for resale. This sort of unethical practice must stop.

:cheers:

To clarify my point: Knowingly buying a refurbished product is not(and can't be) worse than being a victim of fraud and getting scammed. People who knowingly took the risk to buy refurbished bought by choice, whereas victims of fraud had no choice in the matter.

• Retailers that label products as "new" bares the responsibility to sell the products in the same original packaging and state as they were made by the manufacturer.

• With refurbished products:

1. When someone sells a used computer, the purchasing side usually declares zero-responsibility for your data after the point of sale(in which the seller usually signs a waiver), therefore it is the seller's responsibility to wipe their own data.
   
2. Refurbished/Recertified/Used products conditions vary from store to store, and if one of the conditions is the product is sold in As-Is condition for a bargain price, then the business bares no responsibility for the condition of the item.
   

• However, seller of refurb products is in the wrong and should be held accountable if:

1. You had paid them a fee to wipe your data at the point of sale(or if they agree to do it for free) and they didn't,
   
2. They claimed that the used product has been restored to factory-like condition and was not.
   
3. They falsify the physical/working condition of the product.
   

Based on the details you provided earlier, it didn't seems like they did anything wrong. The risk assoicated with buying reurb products is part of getting the "discount price."

I do agree, however, that buying certain refurb products and from certain stores is just not worth it.

:cheers:

Ahhh!!! Ok gotcha....

Because there were 2 issue's on this story. The first one was the scam/fraud and the second was the fact that there data still in the drive. You were talking about the first issue and I was talking about the second issue. Anyways Cheers... :)

[beer]

happy holidays :lol:

[Mo Husen]

When buying secondhand or "as new" hard drive/pc, one should ensure the hard drive is cleaned and re-formatted before use. Otherwise, one can get buggered and end up with HIV. :lol:

HIV = Harmful Invasive Virus

Find me a store in anywhere in the world that will let me open the box, inside their store, so I can setup the system and check. :lol: Isn't that like telling a girl to go get an STD test before you would date her? How has that worked out for you? :P

PS: Not trying to be rude, but come on man!!! seriously???

Not trying to be rude, but come on man!!! seriously???

If you have bought a secondhand hard drive or pc, after you have taken it home, will you not re-format the hard drive before storing your data on it?

If you don't then don't be surprised if you have HIV.