Your color printer may identify you.

[Train Wreck]

EFF Reveals Codes in Xerox Printers

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.

This is the first I've heard of this, though I can't say I'm shocked.  Thomas Paine would have a hard time in this day and age.

[DarkDryad]

I have a docuprint NC60 at the house and tried this. Unless they are using a certain wavelength of blue light mine isnt doing it. It may be newer printers than my old ass nc60 though.

[Train Wreck]

It's usually used on high end printers, like the kind that would be used for counterfeiting.  But once the cat's out of the bag, there's no going back.  They'll keep finding more reasons to use it.

[Alkiera]

Heh.  AFAIK, and my spouse worked at Xerox, and one of my good friends writes code for them, all their copiers will stop functioning if you try to copy money.  There are algorithms to detect the image of US currency which then burn out a part inside.

As far as the yellow dot thing, I'll ask my buddy about that.

Alkiera

[voodoolily]

So why not just counterfeit currency from a different country?

[Mortriden]

So why not just counterfeit currency from a different country?

You be quiet now.  They have a happy little plan and don't need you poking holes in it.   

[Yegolev]

Heh.  AFAIK, and my spouse worked at Xerox, and one of my good friends writes code for them, all their copiers will stop functioning if you try to copy money.  There are algorithms to detect the image of US currency which then burn out a part inside.

Cool, looks like we're going to be getting a new copier on my floor if this works.  So long, shit-box!

[Jamiko]

Cool, looks like we're going to be getting a new copier on my floor if this works.  So long, shit-box!

Someone here at work "accidentally" made a photocopy of a dollar bill. The copier stopped working. The service company came out and reset something and it was back to work just like before. Don't get your hopes up for a new copier.

[Train Wreck]

Xerox has already admitted to the yellow dot thing, according to the article, though it is apparently limited to certain models.

[voodoolily]

By disclosing this information, they're just making it harder to catch counterfeiters, a la "forewarned is forearmed".

[Sky]

I thought laser printer fingerprinting was common knowledge?

[Train Wreck]

By disclosing this information, they're just making it harder to catch counterfeiters, a la "forewarned is forearmed".

All of them would have known after the first one got busted by it, anyway.

[Lemming]

Heh.  AFAIK, and my spouse worked at Xerox, and one of my good friends writes code for them, all their copiers will stop functioning if you try to copy money.  There are algorithms to detect the image of US currency which then burn out a part inside.

I asked a few Xerox technicians about this today at work and they called bullshit.  They did, however, admit they don't know every single detail about every Xerox machine.  Considering all the ways around these algorithms, I don't think Xerox would waste their time on it, but I'll ask an analyst or engineer the next time they pop up around here.

[Hanzii]

So why not just counterfeit currency from a different country?

Because US currency is ridicoulusly easy to copy compared to that of countries that stay with the times.
(I know there's some reason connected to State and Federal law, that prevents the US from just changing the dollar bills like the rest of us do with our currency, but I can't be arsed to look it up...)

[Ironwood]

Heh.  Journalistic integrity and work ethic there.

Welcome back Hanzii, two posts and you've already made me giggle.

[Roac]

Heh.  AFAIK, and my spouse worked at Xerox, and one of my good friends writes code for them, all their copiers will stop functioning if you try to copy money.  There are algorithms to detect the image of US currency which then burn out a part inside.

I asked a few Xerox technicians about this today at work and they called bullshit.  They did, however, admit they don't know every single detail about every Xerox machine.  Considering all the ways around these algorithms, I don't think Xerox would waste their time on it, but I'll ask an analyst or engineer the next time they pop up around here.

Just throw $1 onto the window and hit COPY, and find out.

[Kairos]

So why not just counterfeit currency from a different country?

Because US currency is ridicoulusly easy to copy compared to that of countries that stay with the times.
(I know there's some reason connected to State and Federal law, that prevents the US from just changing the dollar bills like the rest of us do with our currency, but I can't be arsed to look it up...)

Nah. With the way US currency changes, you'll eventually be able to print out whatever crap you want and pass it off as "the new twenty".

[RhyssaFireheart]

Heh.  AFAIK, and my spouse worked at Xerox, and one of my good friends writes code for them, all their copiers will stop functioning if you try to copy money.  There are algorithms to detect the image of US currency which then burn out a part inside.

IIRC, You can't manipulate images of US currency using Photoshop either.  There are guidelines and restrictions on how you can use color images of money though, but the software seems to prevent even legit uses.

http://desktoppub.about.com/b/a/2004_01_08.htm

http://graphicssoft.about.com/b/a/056023.htm

[Shockeye]

IIRC, You can't manipulate images of US currency using Photoshop either.  There are guidelines and restrictions on how you can use color images of money though, but the software seems to prevent even legit uses.

There are patches out there that removes the limitation on Photoshop.