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Diploid
Cuban
Registered: 01/09/03
Posts: 19,274
Loc: Rabbit Hole
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Your Printer May Be Spying On You!
#6466182 - 01/16/07 02:14 PM (17 years, 2 months ago) |
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The yellow dots in this pic encode the printer serial number, and in some cases, the identity of the printer's owner. The scale in the pic is in tenths of millimeters.
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Imagine that every time you printed a document, it automatically included a secret code that could be used to identify the printer - and potentially, the person who used it. Sounds like something from an episode of "Alias," right?
Unfortunately, the scenario isn't fictional. In a purported effort to identify counterfeiters, the US government has succeeded in persuading some color laser printer manufacturers to encode each page with identifying information. That means that without your knowledge or consent, an act you assume is private could become public. A communication tool you're using in everyday life could become a tool for government surveillance. And what's worse, there are no laws to prevent abuse.
The ACLU recently issued a report revealing that the FBI has amassed more than 1,100 pages of documents on the organization since 2001, as well as documents concerning other non-violent groups, including Greenpeace and United for Peace and Justice. In the current political climate, it's not hard to imagine the government using the ability to determine who may have printed what document for purposes other than identifying counterfeiters.
Yet there are no laws to stop the Secret Service from using printer codes to secretly trace the origin of non-currency documents; only the privacy policy of your printer manufacturer currently protects you (if indeed such a policy exists). And no law regulates what sort of documents the Secret Service or any other domestic or foreign government agency is permitted to request for identification, not to mention how such a forensics tool could be developed and implemented in printers in the first place.
With no laws on the books, there's nothing to stop the privacy violations this technology enables. For this reason, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is gathering information about what printers are revealing and how - a necessary precursor to any legal challenge or new legislation to protect your privacy. And we could use your help.
In the preliminary research paper linked below, we explain what we've observed so far, briefly explore the privacy implications, and ask you to print and send us test sheets from your color laser printer and/or a color laser printer at your local print shop. That way, we can watch the watchers and ensure that your privacy isn't compromised in ways that harm your fundamental consitutional rights.
In addition to documenting what printers are revealing, EFF has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, and we will keep you updated on what we discover. In the meantime, we urge you to participate and pass the word along about this research project. Thank you for your support!
http://www.eff.org/Privacy/printers/
-------------------- Republican Values: 1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you. 2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child. 3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer. 4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.
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trippindad82
Trusted Cultivator of Trich
Registered: 01/07/07
Posts: 1,087
Loc: down, down the hole
Last seen: 11 years, 1 month
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Re: Your Printer May Be Spying On You! [Re: Diploid]
#6466193 - 01/16/07 02:21 PM (17 years, 2 months ago) |
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When I worked at Paychex as a printer, one of our smaller XEROX machines had this feature. Also, if you even attempted to copy currency with the machine, it would lock and only a XEROX technician could unlock it. This way, the person who attempted to copy the money was screwed.
-------------------- Trying to explain a journey to someone who has never experienced it is like trying to explain what a zebra looks like to blind person who has never seen a horse. ^^^The above matter may be a complete fantasy that I concocted out of possible boredom.^^^ --------------------------------------
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gettinjiggywithit
jiggy
Registered: 07/20/04
Posts: 7,469
Loc: Heart of Laughter
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Re: Your Printer May Be Spying On You! [Re: Diploid]
#6466598 - 01/16/07 04:32 PM (17 years, 2 months ago) |
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They are spying on Green Peace huh? Holy whales and dolphins batman that is soooo sad.
Sucks to know you live in a world where you have to feel paranoid about having some compassion for all of life. Geeeeez.
-------------------- Ahuwale ka nane huna.
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kotik
fuckingsuperhero
Registered: 06/29/04
Posts: 3,531
Last seen: 4 years, 2 months
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Re: Your Printer May Be Spying On You! [Re: trippindad82]
#6466883 - 01/16/07 05:43 PM (17 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
trippindad82 said: When I worked at Paychex as a printer, one of our smaller XEROX machines had this feature. Also, if you even attempted to copy currency with the machine, it would lock and only a XEROX technician could unlock it. This way, the person who attempted to copy the money was screwed.
ive seen that actually happen once. someone was trying to copy an old map, that was printed on the same type of paper money is - the machine shut down and when the service tech saw the error code, he called police and they had to check the tapes with the manager. pretty serious stuff
-------------------- No statements made in any post or message by myself should be construed to mean that I am now, or have ever been, participating in or considering participation in any activities in violation of any local, state, or federal laws. All posts are works of fiction.
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Schwip
Never sleeps.
Registered: 06/27/05
Posts: 3,937
Last seen: 11 years, 4 months
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Re: Your Printer May Be Spying On You! [Re: Diploid]
#6468565 - 01/17/07 05:44 AM (17 years, 2 months ago) |
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We were messing around making flyers to advertise an upcoming show for my friends' band.
We wanted to make copies of $50 and $100 bills and replace the presidential faces with that of the band memebers.
I have never seen my copier do such odd random things as it did that day!
It would not print the bills bigger than an 1/4" x 1/8" ! It would lock up. It would start beeping and error out.
I thought it was interesting how 'smart' it was.
-------------------- -------------------------------- " If the sky were to suddenly open up there would be no law. There would be no rule. There would only be you and your memories... the choices you've made, and the people you've touched. If this world were to end there would only be you and him and no-one else. " .............. "MAN! You know there aint no such thing as left over crack!"
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5150
phantom
Registered: 09/01/06
Posts: 5,437
Last seen: 4 years, 4 months
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Re: Your Printer May Be Spying On You! [Re: Diploid]
#6480206 - 01/20/07 04:01 PM (17 years, 2 months ago) |
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pay cash for everything, at least while u still can
-------------------- "the way of the warrior is the resolute acceptance of death" Miyamoto Musashi
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makaveli8x8
Stranger
Registered: 02/28/06
Posts: 21,636
Last seen: 7 years, 9 months
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Re: Your Printer May Be Spying On You! [Re: 5150]
#6494702 - 01/25/07 12:57 AM (17 years, 2 months ago) |
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im going ask my employer to pay me with food stamps from now on.
-------------------- We were sent to hell for eternity Øh® We play on earth to pass the time Over-population the root of all Evil-brings the Elites Closer to the gates.
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