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Yes, your color printer is spying on you



 
 
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  #1  
Old October 19th 05, 07:34 PM
SSW
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Default Yes, your color printer is spying on you

EFF reveals codes in Xerox printers

NEW YORK (AP) -- Just because a document from a color laser printer
doesn't carry your name doesn't mean no one can trace it back to you,
privacy advocates warn.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation says it has cracked the tracking
codes embedded in Xerox Corp.'s DocuColor color laser printers. Such
codes are just one way that manufacturers employ technology to help
governments fight currency counterfeiting.

"Underground democracy movements ... will always need the anonymity of
simple paper documents, but this technology makes it easier for
governments to find dissenters," said Lee Tien, EFF senior staff
attorney. "Even worse, it shows how the government and private
industry make backroom deals to weaken our privacy by compromising
everyday equipment like printers."

Researchers found patterns of yellow dots arranged in 15 by 8 grids
and printed repeatedly over every color page, said Seth Schoen, a
staff technologist at the San Francisco-based civil-liberties group.

The dots are visible only with a magnifying glass or under blue light,
which causes the yellow dots to appear black.

By analyzing test pages printed out by supporters worldwide and by
staffers at various FedEx Kinko's locations, researchers found that
some of the dots correspond to the printers' serial numbers. Other
dots refer to the date and time of the printing.

Xerox spokesman Bill McKee would not provide details about the
technology. He said the company "does not routinely share any
information about its customers," though it does respond to requests
from law enforcement...

The EFF is now studying other printers from well-known manufacturers
with similar tracking codes...

Adobe Systems Inc. has acknowledged quietly adding the government
software to its Photoshop software at the request of regulators and
international bankers.

But David Skidmore, a spokesman at the Federal Reserve Board, said
that the technology, known as the Counterfeit Deterrence System, was
aimed mostly at personal computers and ink-jet printers - not the
high-end machines like DocuColor.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See pic at http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000663063763/

  #2  
Old October 19th 05, 09:10 PM
Rod Speed
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Posts: n/a
Default Yes, your color printer is spying on you

No it isnt, at most its recording what printer
a particular document was created on.

SSW wrote:
EFF reveals codes in Xerox printers

NEW YORK (AP) -- Just because a document from a color laser printer
doesn't carry your name doesn't mean no one can trace it back to you,
privacy advocates warn.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation says it has cracked the tracking
codes embedded in Xerox Corp.'s DocuColor color laser printers. Such
codes are just one way that manufacturers employ technology to help
governments fight currency counterfeiting.

"Underground democracy movements ... will always need the anonymity of
simple paper documents, but this technology makes it easier for
governments to find dissenters," said Lee Tien, EFF senior staff
attorney. "Even worse, it shows how the government and private
industry make backroom deals to weaken our privacy by compromising
everyday equipment like printers."

Researchers found patterns of yellow dots arranged in 15 by 8 grids
and printed repeatedly over every color page, said Seth Schoen, a
staff technologist at the San Francisco-based civil-liberties group.

The dots are visible only with a magnifying glass or under blue light,
which causes the yellow dots to appear black.

By analyzing test pages printed out by supporters worldwide and by
staffers at various FedEx Kinko's locations, researchers found that
some of the dots correspond to the printers' serial numbers. Other
dots refer to the date and time of the printing.

Xerox spokesman Bill McKee would not provide details about the
technology. He said the company "does not routinely share any
information about its customers," though it does respond to requests
from law enforcement...

The EFF is now studying other printers from well-known manufacturers
with similar tracking codes...

Adobe Systems Inc. has acknowledged quietly adding the government
software to its Photoshop software at the request of regulators and
international bankers.

But David Skidmore, a spokesman at the Federal Reserve Board, said
that the technology, known as the Counterfeit Deterrence System, was
aimed mostly at personal computers and ink-jet printers - not the
high-end machines like DocuColor.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See pic at http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000663063763/



  #3  
Old October 20th 05, 12:08 AM
ian lincoln
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Posts: n/a
Default Yes, your color printer is spying on you


"SSW" wrote in message
...
moocho snippage


But David Skidmore, a spokesman at the Federal Reserve Board, said
that the technology, known as the Counterfeit Deterrence System, was
aimed mostly at personal computers and ink-jet printers - not the
high-end machines like DocuColor.


So don't go using your equipment for counterfeiting operations.


  #4  
Old October 20th 05, 12:26 AM
Shaun Eli
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Posts: n/a
Default Yes, your color printer is spying on you

Of course this is also a way to ensure that you eventually have to buy
another yellow ink cartridge, even if all your printing is in black.

Shaun Eli
www.BrainChampagne.com
Brain Champagne: Clever Comedy for the Smart Mind (sm)

  #5  
Old October 20th 05, 01:02 AM
ER
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Yes, your color printer is spying on you

FROM NOW ON!

DO NOT REGISTER YOUR PRINTER WITH THE MANUFACTURER!!

ER



"SSW" wrote in message
...
EFF reveals codes in Xerox printers

NEW YORK (AP) -- Just because a document from a color laser printer
doesn't carry your name doesn't mean no one can trace it back to you,
privacy advocates warn.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation says it has cracked the tracking
codes embedded in Xerox Corp.'s DocuColor color laser printers. Such
codes are just one way that manufacturers employ technology to help
governments fight currency counterfeiting.

"Underground democracy movements ... will always need the anonymity of
simple paper documents, but this technology makes it easier for
governments to find dissenters," said Lee Tien, EFF senior staff
attorney. "Even worse, it shows how the government and private
industry make backroom deals to weaken our privacy by compromising
everyday equipment like printers."

Researchers found patterns of yellow dots arranged in 15 by 8 grids
and printed repeatedly over every color page, said Seth Schoen, a
staff technologist at the San Francisco-based civil-liberties group.

The dots are visible only with a magnifying glass or under blue light,
which causes the yellow dots to appear black.

By analyzing test pages printed out by supporters worldwide and by
staffers at various FedEx Kinko's locations, researchers found that
some of the dots correspond to the printers' serial numbers. Other
dots refer to the date and time of the printing.

Xerox spokesman Bill McKee would not provide details about the
technology. He said the company "does not routinely share any
information about its customers," though it does respond to requests
from law enforcement...

The EFF is now studying other printers from well-known manufacturers
with similar tracking codes...

Adobe Systems Inc. has acknowledged quietly adding the government
software to its Photoshop software at the request of regulators and
international bankers.

But David Skidmore, a spokesman at the Federal Reserve Board, said
that the technology, known as the Counterfeit Deterrence System, was
aimed mostly at personal computers and ink-jet printers - not the
high-end machines like DocuColor.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See pic at http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000663063763/



  #6  
Old October 20th 05, 01:27 AM
Impmon
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Yes, your color printer is spying on you

On Wed, 19 Oct 2005 17:02:42 -0700, "ER" wrote:

FROM NOW ON!

DO NOT REGISTER YOUR PRINTER WITH THE MANUFACTURER!!


Better solution: used printer or copy machines from anonymous source
like thrift shop, yard sales, etc where new buyer can't be tracked at
all. Not eBay or online places since the seller would have buyer's
address.

Let the original owner sweat while you make millions out of
counterfeit $20 bills.
--
When you hear the toilet flush, and hear the words "uh oh", it's already
too late. - by anonymous Mother in Austin, TX
To reply, replace digi.mon with phreaker.net
  #7  
Old October 20th 05, 01:46 AM
Steve
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Yes, your color printer is spying on you

"ian lincoln" wrote:
So don't go using your equipment for counterfeiting operations.


Or for printing political leaflets if you live in China or Saudi
Arabia or Zimbabwe, etc etc etc.


************************************************** ***

It is no measure of health to be well adjusted
to a profoundly sick society.

....Krishnamurti
  #8  
Old October 20th 05, 01:48 AM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Yes, your color printer is spying on you

EFF reveals codes in Xerox printers

NEW YORK (AP) -- Just because a document from a color laser printer
doesn't carry your name doesn't mean no one can trace it back to you,
privacy advocates warn.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation says it has cracked the tracking
codes embedded in Xerox Corp.'s DocuColor color laser printers. Such
codes are just one way that manufacturers employ technology to help
governments fight currency counterfeiting.

This is old news - over 2 years old. People in the know can find
revised firmware that disables this 'feature.'

P.S. Don't ask me how. Do your own legwork.
  #9  
Old October 20th 05, 02:17 AM
Clark W. Griswold, Jr.
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Posts: n/a
Default Yes, your color printer is spying on you

"ER" wrote:

FROM NOW ON!

DO NOT REGISTER YOUR PRINTER WITH THE MANUFACTURER!!


RIght. And did you pay cash? Many registers record the serial number of gear
like printers...

While knowing who owns a printer is likely to be of some interest. I suspect the
main usage now is to tie a printer to a given person after the fact...

As in "Your honor, we found counterfeit bills passed at business A, B, C & D and
the printer used to print those counterfeits was in the possession of Joe."
  #10  
Old October 20th 05, 04:47 AM
Don Taylor
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Yes, your color printer is spying on you

Impmon writes:
On Wed, 19 Oct 2005 17:02:42 -0700, "ER" wrote:
FROM NOW ON!

DO NOT REGISTER YOUR PRINTER WITH THE MANUFACTURER!!


Better solution: used printer or copy machines from anonymous source
like thrift shop, yard sales, etc where new buyer can't be tracked at
all. Not eBay or online places since the seller would have buyer's
address.


Let the original owner sweat while you make millions out of
counterfeit $20 bills.


Safety tip: Don't buy your used color printer or copier from this guy
 




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