Hard Drive Confiscation

Definition ∞ Hard Drive Confiscation is the legal seizure of physical data storage devices, such as computer hard drives, by law enforcement or government agencies. This action is typically executed during investigations to acquire digital evidence related to alleged crimes. In the context of digital assets, it aims to recover private keys, transaction records, or other pertinent data. This can be a critical step in tracing illicit crypto activities.
Context ∞ Hard drive confiscation is a standard investigative procedure that has gained new relevance with the proliferation of digital assets. News often reports on cases where authorities seize devices suspected of holding cryptocurrency wallets or evidence of cybercrime. The legal boundaries and technical challenges associated with accessing and analyzing data from confiscated drives remain subjects of ongoing discussion.