*free* Need to know if your printer's betrayed you?

[RideFree]

these are only the known ones
What you don't know can hurt you.

 

[MrNutz]

interesting...

 

[RideFree]

There is an article floating out there that gives more detail about the controversy and none on the printers. I'll see if I can find it & post it.
try THIS.

(Obviously, everybody knew it but me.)

 

[zikronix]

why does it matter? Because people print money? Im not sure I understand

 

[RideFree]

"Why does it matter?"
I guess it doesn't. But then I don't print counterfit anything, let alone money.

However, I'm going to walmart and paying cash for my tear 'em a new ass printer from now on...

 

[Pabster]

Seems if you aren't a criminal you have nothing to worry about.

 

[dbleoslow]

Originally posted by: RideFree
"Why does it matter?"
I guess it doesn't. But then I don't print counterfit anything, let alone money.

However, I'm going to walmart and paying cash for my tear 'em a new ass printer from now on...

Yes, you'll pay cash so there's no credit record of the purchase. Then you'll go home and install the printer drivers and be happy. Somewhere down the road your printer software will check for updates. While checking for updates the server it connects to will capture the serial number and IP of the computer that's connecting. Based on this IP they can track you down.

Conclusion: You can't hide unless you live in a shack in Idaho with no power or internet access

 

[ECartman]

Originally posted by: Pabster
Seems if you aren't a criminal you have nothing to worry about.

uh ... that is really wishful thinking. This can be used in civil cases now that it is known...in all sorts of tracking of documents outside of counterfeiting and outside of the criminal context. You best hope no one uses your printer at your home or office and it implicates you or frames you.

 

[RagManX]

Originally posted by: Pabster
Seems if you aren't a criminal you have nothing to worry about.

Given that the PATRIOT act gives the federal government the power to declare you a criminal after the fact for such things as giving money to an organization that is later declared to be a terrorist front, you have something to worry about. If some day in the future, the government decided the NRA or NPR were terrorist organizations, the current PATRIOT act, if left intact and extended, would allow the government to declare anyone who contributed money to them in the past also terrorists. Lovely.

Always consider anything that gives the government greater power to track and/or monitor you as a bad thing.

RagManX

 

[mikeford]

Seems like a very mixed bag to me, could be good for me, could be bad for me. I use an old HPLJ4, so its moot for now

 

[MorrisDancer]

RagmanX,
You got it.

Originally posted by: RagManX

Originally posted by: Pabster
Seems if you aren't a criminal you have nothing to worry about.

Given that the PATRIOT act gives the federal government the power to declare you a criminal after the fact for such things as giving money to an organization that is later declared to be a terrorist front, you have something to worry about. If some day in the future, the government decided the NRA or NPR were terrorist organizations, the current PATRIOT act, if left intact and extended, would allow the government to declare anyone who contributed money to them in the past also terrorists. Lovely.

Always consider anything that gives the government greater power to track and/or monitor you as a bad thing.

RagManX

 

[SRGilbert]

Originally posted by: Pabster
Seems if you aren't a criminal you have nothing to worry about.

So I guess you would be ok with the feds searching your house or car, or maybe monitoring your emails, internet access, and phone calls. After all, you've nothing to hide do you? :roll:

 

[onelove]

Originally posted by: Pabster
Seems if you aren't a criminal you have nothing to worry about.

haha - ok, I won't post anything, since as I read the rest of the thread, he has already been enlightened.

 

[OJ]

So you just print the file, then photocopy it and send it. The photocopier will not copy the light yellow marks

 

[unclebabar]

I guess if you don't have a photocopier, you could always urinate all over the document. Have a couple extra multivitamins first, make it nice and yellow. Find a dog or cat to do it if you're worried about DNA.

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: dbleoslow

Originally posted by: RideFree
"Why does it matter?"
I guess it doesn't. But then I don't print counterfit anything, let alone money.

However, I'm going to walmart and paying cash for my tear 'em a new ass printer from now on...

Yes, you'll pay cash so there's no credit record of the purchase. Then you'll go home and install the printer drivers and be happy. Somewhere down the road your printer software will check for updates. While checking for updates the server it connects to will capture the serial number and IP of the computer that's connecting. Based on this IP they can track you down.

Conclusion: You can't hide unless you live in a shack in Idaho with no power or internet access

What about date and time of purchase in the store + video footage? Every major printer has both a UPC and serial number sticker on it that gets scanned during sale.

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: OJ
So you just print the file, then photocopy it and send it. The photocopier will not copy the light yellow marks

A color photocopier probably puts its own yellow dots. In short, don't print counterfeit money.

 

[mobiblu]

funny how HP seem to have the most defective models

 

[dripgoss]

Shhh.. get out your tin foil hats - THEY'RE LISTENING!!!

 

[mscdex0]

sweet, my HP LaserJet 6L printer isn't listed :thumbsup:

 

[shoRunner]

Originally posted by: sxr7171

Originally posted by: dbleoslow

Originally posted by: RideFree
"Why does it matter?"
I guess it doesn't. But then I don't print counterfit anything, let alone money.

However, I'm going to walmart and paying cash for my tear 'em a new ass printer from now on...

Yes, you'll pay cash so there's no credit record of the purchase. Then you'll go home and install the printer drivers and be happy. Somewhere down the road your printer software will check for updates. While checking for updates the server it connects to will capture the serial number and IP of the computer that's connecting. Based on this IP they can track you down.

Conclusion: You can't hide unless you live in a shack in Idaho with no power or internet access

What about date and time of purchase in the store + video footage? Every major printer has both a UPC and serial number sticker on it that gets scanned during sale.

the UPC is scanned during purchase not the serial number, at least not at any electronics retailer that i know of.

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: shoRunner

Originally posted by: sxr7171

Originally posted by: dbleoslow

Originally posted by: RideFree
"Why does it matter?"
I guess it doesn't. But then I don't print counterfit anything, let alone money.

However, I'm going to walmart and paying cash for my tear 'em a new ass printer from now on...

Yes, you'll pay cash so there's no credit record of the purchase. Then you'll go home and install the printer drivers and be happy. Somewhere down the road your printer software will check for updates. While checking for updates the server it connects to will capture the serial number and IP of the computer that's connecting. Based on this IP they can track you down.

Conclusion: You can't hide unless you live in a shack in Idaho with no power or internet access

What about date and time of purchase in the store + video footage? Every major printer has both a UPC and serial number sticker on it that gets scanned during sale.

the UPC is scanned during purchase not the serial number, at least not at any electronics retailer that i know of.

Why does it print on the receipt then?

I mean they do it for video game consoles why wouldn't retailers do it for printers too, especially for the government? Why do think the manufacturers do this yellow dot thing?


BTW, this whole thing was known quite a while back. It's just that the EFF learned to crack the code and know exactly what information it contains. The technology was apparently developed by Xerox and all color laser printers are supposed to contain a chip that puts these codes on printouts. The main motivation was to thwart counterfeiters. Counterfeit bills can induce inflation in an economy with a quickness. The redesigned currency notes were also brought out to prevent such an attack on the economy.

 

[AStar617]

Originally posted by: mikeford
Seems like a very mixed bag to me, could be good for me, could be bad for me. I use an old HPLJ4, so its moot for now

Workhorse, failproof HP printer from "the good ol' days" FTW! Just use something that predates all the Big Brother crap and won't break down anytime soon, like we do.

/pats his HPLJ4

 

[TecJunkie]

wtf is this mess, is it for tracking your printouts if you send a ransom note or something?

 

[amdhunter]

NEXT WEEK ON CSI:AnandTech...

Watch as the OPS solve an incredible missing child case after a criminal made the fatal mistake of printing the kids picture on an HP Color LaserJet...

But before that, an all new Two and a Half men.