Big Brother in your laser jet printer......

[MisterJackson]

Kinda scary

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: MisterJackson
Kinda scary

Someone did a really crappy job with editing that story.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Talk about an incentive to NEVER register a product. If you ever sold a product and the buyer (or someone else) used it to counterfit, guess who they would be comming after.

 

[Viper GTS]

I used to support HP color laserjets, I can confirm that there is data printed in yellow.

It's referred to as a counterfeit protection, I was not aware that it included any machine specific information.

Let me see if I can find any of HP's docs on it.

BTW, if you want to see exactly what's printed on the more recent models (4600 and 5500 specifically) you can put the printer in diagnostics mode. In diagnostics mode the printer doesn't care what cartridges are in what position, & you can put any color that is readily visible (black for example) in the yellow slot. You can then remove the remaining cartridges & print as normal. The pattern that is normally printed in yellow will be printed in black.

Viper GTS

 

[sygyzy]

Is it printed on the actually printed material (ie photo, text) or is it shot on the white part of the paper?

 

[brxndxn]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
I used to support HP color laserjets, I can confirm that there is data printed in yellow.

It's referred to as a counterfeit protection, I was not aware that it included any machine specific information.

Let me see if I can find any of HP's docs on it.

Viper GTS

Good thing my Brother laser printer only has black toner..

 

[MisterJackson]

Originally posted by: brxndxn

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
I used to support HP color laserjets, I can confirm that there is data printed in yellow.

It's referred to as a counterfeit protection, I was not aware that it included any machine specific information.

Let me see if I can find any of HP's docs on it.

Viper GTS

Good thing my Brother laser printer only has black toner..

No "Big Brother" in your "Brother" huh??? Sorry, couldn't resist. I know the cheese flowith' forth.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

I could deal with them doing the Invisible Dot Bukkake if it was UV designed to react in "FAKE" under money-detector blacklight ... but a unique ID of the printer? Time to set fire to some buildings.

- M4H

 

[DaFinn]

Hmmm... *Looks at his HP Color Laserjet*

 

[mugs]

I remember back when they were trying to find the anthrax guy that they said they were trying to trace his letters to a particular photocopier using a "fingerprint" that the photocopier leaves. Now I know what they were talking about.

 

[XMan]

No offense, but if you're not making photocopies of money, what's your problem, guys?

Although most color copiers won't copy money . . .

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
I could deal with them doing the Invisible Dot Bukkake if it was UV designed to react in "FAKE" under money-detector blacklight ... but a unique ID of the printer? Time to set fire to some buildings.

- M4H

:beer:

 

[toekramp]

Originally posted by: X-Man
No offense, but if you're not making photocopies of money, what's your problem, guys?

Although most color copiers won't copy money . . .

that isn't the point

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: toekramp

Originally posted by: X-Man
No offense, but if you're not making photocopies of money, what's your problem, guys?

Although most color copiers won't copy money . . .

that isn't the point

No, it is the point. That's why the technology was embedded into the equipment - to prevent counterfeiting.

 

[DrPizza]

So... when you need to buy a copier for your counterfeiting needs, purchase it (along with your paper and ink) in another state. Send back the registration for the copier, registered in the name of some known crime family member who lives in that other state.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

What five year old proof read that article? That's the real question here.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: X-Man

Originally posted by: toekramp

Originally posted by: X-Man
No offense, but if you're not making photocopies of money, what's your problem, guys?

Although most color copiers won't copy money . . .

that isn't the point

No, it is the point. That's why the technology was embedded into the equipment - to prevent counterfeiting.

But it ALSO presents a major privacy issue.

The point is that it may be a case of killing a housefly with a hand-grenade.

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie

Originally posted by: X-Man

Originally posted by: toekramp

Originally posted by: X-Man
No offense, but if you're not making photocopies of money, what's your problem, guys?

Although most color copiers won't copy money . . .

that isn't the point

No, it is the point. That's why the technology was embedded into the equipment - to prevent counterfeiting.

But it ALSO presents a major privacy issue.

The point is that it may be a case of killing a housefly with a hand-grenade.

Again, I don't see it. Counterfeiting is a HUGE problem.

I think a lot of you are miscontruing how common this is. This technology is not available, say, on the sub-$500 printers that office supply stores sell. It is, however, going to be on the high-dollar network color laser printers. Stuff that starts at two grand and only goes up from there.

 

[Armitage]

Everytime I'm ready to throw out my tinfoil hat I read some story that sends me running to by more stock in Alcoa.

Yes, it is a serious privacy issue X-Man. You don't have to be a counterfiter to dislike this one.

 

[db]

There should be an internet "law" that says whenever the phrase "big brother" shows up in a thread, someone will always respond: "if you're not doing anything wrong, what's the problem?"

 

[MacBaine]

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie

Originally posted by: X-Man

Originally posted by: toekramp

Originally posted by: X-Man
No offense, but if you're not making photocopies of money, what's your problem, guys?

Although most color copiers won't copy money . . .

that isn't the point

No, it is the point. That's why the technology was embedded into the equipment - to prevent counterfeiting.

But it ALSO presents a major privacy issue.

The point is that it may be a case of killing a housefly with a hand-grenade.

Tell me how it presents a major privacy issue. Please.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: MacBaine

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie

Originally posted by: X-Man

Originally posted by: toekramp

Originally posted by: X-Man
No offense, but if you're not making photocopies of money, what's your problem, guys?

Although most color copiers won't copy money . . .

that isn't the point

No, it is the point. That's why the technology was embedded into the equipment - to prevent counterfeiting.

But it ALSO presents a major privacy issue.

The point is that it may be a case of killing a housefly with a hand-grenade.

Tell me how it presents a major privacy issue. Please.

How much do you trust your government?
Read some history before you answer that.
I suggest that the freedom to speak anonymously is an important component of free speech. If the government can track down every dissident voice, then you don't really have freedom of speech.

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: Armitage

Originally posted by: MacBaine

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie

Originally posted by: X-Man

Originally posted by: toekramp

Originally posted by: X-Man
No offense, but if you're not making photocopies of money, what's your problem, guys?

Although most color copiers won't copy money . . .

that isn't the point

No, it is the point. That's why the technology was embedded into the equipment - to prevent counterfeiting.

But it ALSO presents a major privacy issue.

The point is that it may be a case of killing a housefly with a hand-grenade.

Tell me how it presents a major privacy issue. Please.

How much do you trust your government?
Read some history before you answer that.
I suggest that the freedom to speak anonymously is an important component of free speech. If the government can track down every dissident voice, then you don't really have freedom of speech.

<sigh>

Well, if you're going to print subversive and or revolutionary texts, just don't do it in color! Or use a cheapo color inkjet . . . LOL.