Should I keep my ex-employer's data?

Posted by Jurily on Server Fault See other posts from Server Fault or by Jurily
Published on 2010-05-28T16:41:28Z Indexed on 2010/05/28 16:42 UTC
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Following my brief reign as System Monkey, I am now faced with a dilemma:

I did successfully create a backup and a test VM, both on my laptop, as no computer at work had enough free disk space. I didn't delete the backup yet, as it's still the only one of its kind in the company's history. The original is running on a hard drive in continuous use since 2006. There is now only one person left at the company, who knows what a backup is, and they're unlikely to hire someone else, for reasons very closely related to my departure.

Last time I tried to talk to them about the importance of backups, they thought I was threatening them.

Should I keep it?

Pros:

  • I get to save people from their own stupidity (the unofficial sysadmin motto, as far as I know)
  • I get to say "I told you so" when they come begging for help, and feel good about it
  • I get to say nice things about myself on my next job interview
  • Nice clean conscience
  • Bonus rep with the appropriate deities

Cons:

  • Legal problems: even if I do help them out with it, they might just sue me for keeping it anyway, although given the circumstances I think I have a good case
  • Legal problems: given the nature of the job and their security, if something leaks, I'm a likely target for retaliation
  • Legal problems: whatever else I didn't think about
  • I need more space for porn.
  • Legal problems.

What would you do?

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