Why throw away your computers? Why not remove/disconnect the batteries (if portable) and just store them somewhere in case you eventually no longer suspect a hardware hack, as in this case?
If you haven't been through this kind of thing, it's hard to understand how scary it is to have a break-in of unknown origin. If you use strong, unique passwords as Max did, then you're almost certain it's a server break in (and again, this is why Slack is scary for sensitive info)...but being 99% certain isn't enough. Removing that computer permanently from the team gave peace of mind.
That's why he needed a new physical computer.