NationStates Jolt Archive

uh... that's why you print from public computers only



Tiny dots produced by some laser printers are a secret code that can allow the government to track down counterfeiters, a new study concludes, raising the hackles of privacy advocates.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation said its researchers recently broke the code behind the tiny tracking dots and said the US Secret Service confirmed that the tracking is part of a deal struck with selected color laser printer manufacturers to identify counterfeiters.

"We've found that the dots from at least one line of printers encode the date and time your document was printed, as well as the serial number of the printer," said EFF researcher Seth Schoen.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1025-08.htm

Another reason why laser printer sucks.

uh... that's why you print from public computers only



Tiny dots produced by some laser printers are a secret code that can allow the government to track down counterfeiters, a new study concludes, raising the hackles of privacy advocates.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation said its researchers recently broke the code behind the tiny tracking dots and said the US Secret Service confirmed that the tracking is part of a deal struck with selected color laser printer manufacturers to identify counterfeiters.

"We've found that the dots from at least one line of printers encode the date and time your document was printed, as well as the serial number of the printer," said EFF researcher Seth Schoen.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1025-08.htm
um you are a bit slow off the mark they have been implemented for awhile


Here is a list of printers that do NOT print tracking dots

http://www.eff.org/Privacy/printers/list.php

um you are a bit slow off the mark they have been implemented for awhile


Here is a list of printers that do NOT print tracking dots

http://www.eff.org/Privacy/printers/list.php


thanx.
they're unsure of Microsoft's. but i've never trusted them to begin with.



I'm not sure if this is the story I heard on the radio tonight, but another
interesting tech story
Gov't orders net telephon services establish monitoring capability to help the FBI
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,69277,00.html?tw=wn_2polihead


The one I heard sounded something similar:
gov't orders ....... to allow them to tap in anytime they want.
But the story I heard had something to do with libraries and
cable internet carriers. The libraries said it would be too expensive
for them to comply. I'm not sure what it was they were talking about.

Another reason why laser printer sucks.
Actually, it is a good thing.

Ever been accidently given a counterfeit bill? I have and it isn't a fun experience. I had tried to pay for a very low price item, it was less than a dollar and I didn't have enough in change, so I was using the $5 I had got as change from some other place and the stupid little paranoid cashier hit this buzzer and never told me what the problem was. I felt... well, let's just say, I felt like there was a huge spotlight on me.

Once you've been through something like that, you really don't want to encounter any counterfeit bills of any type. So, maybe you should reconsider your statement about why laser printers suck.

After all, it would cut down on this and leave innocent people like me out of the line of fire.

I just hope you're never passed a counterfeit bill, but if you are, just remember, you did say that this kind of tracking technology sucks. Just remember that as you're standing in line, with just this $5 bill in your wallet and the cashier presses this buzzer, as if you're a common petty thug... I doubt you'll think the same way.

Actually, it is a good thing.

Ever been accidently given a counterfeit bill? I have and it isn't a fun experience. I had tried to pay for a very low price item, it was less than a dollar and I didn't have enough in change, so I was using the $5 I had got as change from some other place and the stupid little paranoid cashier hit this buzzer and never told me what the problem was. I felt... well, let's just say, I felt like there was a huge spotlight on me.

Once you've been through something like that, you really don't want to encounter any counterfeit bills of any type. So, maybe you should reconsider your statement about why laser printers suck.

After all, it would cut down on this and leave innocent people like me out of the line of fire.

I just hope you're never passed a counterfeit bill, but if you are, just remember, you did say that this kind of tracking technology sucks. Just remember that as you're standing in line, with just this $5 bill in your wallet and the cashier presses this buzzer, as if you're a common petty thug... I doubt you'll think the same way.
Maybe we should have surveillance cameras in our bedrooms too. That way we can cut down on innocent people being accused of molesting their children.

This will not stop counterfeiters. All they have to do is steal or modify a printer, or choose some brand without markings. So if your cashier has any kind of clue she'll be equally weary in the future.

Actually, it is a good thing.

Ever been accidently given a counterfeit bill? I have and it isn't a fun experience. I had tried to pay for a very low price item, it was less than a dollar and I didn't have enough in change, so I was using the $5 I had got as change from some other place and the stupid little paranoid cashier hit this buzzer and never told me what the problem was. I felt... well, let's just say, I felt like there was a huge spotlight on me.

Once you've been through something like that, you really don't want to encounter any counterfeit bills of any type. So, maybe you should reconsider your statement about why laser printers suck.

After all, it would cut down on this and leave innocent people like me out of the line of fire.

I just hope you're never passed a counterfeit bill, but if you are, just remember, you did say that this kind of tracking technology sucks. Just remember that as you're standing in line, with just this $5 bill in your wallet and the cashier presses this buzzer, as if you're a common petty thug... I doubt you'll think the same way.

It is you who will ultimately think differently. Anytime you give government power to invade the individual's privacy without severe oversight, they WILL abuse it and misuse it. The government is not your friend, it is a cruel master.

It is you who will ultimately think differently. Anytime you give government power to invade the individual's privacy without severe oversight, they WILL abuse it and misuse it. The government is not your friend, it is a cruel master.

Remember, you elected your own cruel master...

Remember, you elected your own cruel master...

Eh? Where's the lucky country where you get to elect your own master? Voting is like shopping. You pays your money, and they give you what they jolly well feel like giving you.

Eh? Where's the lucky country where you get to elect your own master? Voting is like shopping. You pays your money, and they give you what they jolly well feel like giving you.

Guess you mixed up paying for a cruel master (I´ve heard rumors there are such "things" in the world) and paying for your election :eek:

Guess you mixed up paying for a cruel master (I´ve heard rumors there are such "things" in the world) and paying for your election :eek:

Everyone pays.

Everyone pays.

Hmmm, normally I don´t have to pay for my own cruel master...

>irony warning<

Actually, it is a good thing.

Ever been accidently given a counterfeit bill? I have and it isn't a fun experience. I had tried to pay for a very low price item, it was less than a dollar and I didn't have enough in change, so I was using the $5 I had got as change from some other place and the stupid little paranoid cashier hit this buzzer and never told me what the problem was. I felt... well, let's just say, I felt like there was a huge spotlight on me.


This is no problem of printers but to the government making counterfying that easy. your weird USD should be replaced by a currency, which is not as easy to counterfie and better to distinguish.

Actually, it is a good thing.

Ever been accidently given a counterfeit bill? I have and it isn't a fun experience. I had tried to pay for a very low price item, it was less than a dollar and I didn't have enough in change, so I was using the $5 I had got as change from some other place and the stupid little paranoid cashier hit this buzzer and never told me what the problem was. I felt... well, let's just say, I felt like there was a huge spotlight on me.

Once you've been through something like that, you really don't want to encounter any counterfeit bills of any type. So, maybe you should reconsider your statement about why laser printers suck.

After all, it would cut down on this and leave innocent people like me out of the line of fire.

I just hope you're never passed a counterfeit bill, but if you are, just remember, you did say that this kind of tracking technology sucks. Just remember that as you're standing in line, with just this $5 bill in your wallet and the cashier presses this buzzer, as if you're a common petty thug... I doubt you'll think the same way.


Thats all good and fine except for the fact that it tracks ALL printing work done by you

Thats like saying all bathrooms should have a camera in them because one kid vandalized it

Yeah it would stop the vandalization
But is it worth the loss of privacy?

This is no problem of printers but to the government making counterfying that easy. your weird USD should be replaced by a currency, which is not as easy to counterfie and better to distinguish.
Already has ... they worked from the larger bills down

http://www.bep.treas.gov/section.cfm/7/35

May want to look under the "new" security fetures section (its been a few years but they have added a lot of security features)

Also, a machine-readable feature has been incorporated for the blind. It will facilitate development of convenient scanning devices that could identify the denomination of the note.

But the notes still all feel alike? that is idiotic!