Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: FED can ID your Color Printer

  1. #1
    God/dess threlayer's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Syracuse
    Posts
    5,921
    Thanks
    369
    Thanked 419 Times in 290 Posts
    My Mood
    Fine

    Default FED can ID your Color Printer

    Sleuths Crack Tracking Code Discovered in Color Printers


    By Mike Musgrove
    Washington Post Staff Writer
    Wednesday, October 19, 2005; Page D01

    It sounds like a conspiracy theory, but it isn't. The pages coming out of your color printer may contain hidden information that could be used to track you down if you ever cross the U.S. government.

    Last year, an article in PC World magazine pointed out that printouts from many color laser printers contained yellow dots scattered across the page, viewable only with a special kind of flashlight. The article quoted a senior researcher at Xerox Corp. as saying the dots contain information useful to law-enforcement authorities, a secret digital "license tag" for tracking down criminals.

    The content of the coded information was supposed to be a secret, available only to agencies looking for counterfeiters who use color printers. Now, the secret is out.

    Yesterday, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a San Francisco consumer privacy group, said it had cracked the code used in a widely used line of Xerox printers, an invisible bar code of sorts that contains the serial number of the printer as well as the date and time a document was printed.

    With the Xerox printers, the information appears as a pattern of yellow dots, each only a millimeter wide and visible only with a magnifying glass and a blue light.

    The EFF said it has identified similar coding on pages printed from nearly every major printer manufacturer, including Hewlett-Packard Co., though its team has so far cracked the codes for only one type of Xerox printer.

    The U.S. Secret Service acknowledged yesterday that the markings, which are not visible to the human eye, are there, but it played down the use for invading privacy.....

    Link to this - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...101801663.html


    This article shows how it is done...
    http://news.zdnet.com/2300-1009_22-5901948-1.html
    I loved going to strip clubs; I actually made some friends there. Now things are different for the clubs and for me. As a result I am not as happy.

    Customers are not entitled to grope, disrespect, or rob strippers. This is their job, not their hobby, and they all need income. Clubs are not just some erotic show for guys to view while drinking.

    NOTE: anything I post here, outside of a direct quote, is my opinion only, which I am entitled to. Take it for what you estimate it is worth.

  2. #2
    God/dess threlayer's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Syracuse
    Posts
    5,921
    Thanks
    369
    Thanked 419 Times in 290 Posts
    My Mood
    Fine

    Default Re: FED can ID your Color Printer

    So I don't think your 'easy' money will work too well.

    Further, don't use your color printer to send nasty notes to your soon-to-be-ex's lawyer, or the judge who wronged you.

    This has confirmed a long-standing urban legend. I guess I donlt really understand why this has been such a secret not released by the manufacturers. Doesn't make me want to buy a new color inkjet very soon.

    Don't ask me to discuss the 'GUID' codes in you digital documents.
    I loved going to strip clubs; I actually made some friends there. Now things are different for the clubs and for me. As a result I am not as happy.

    Customers are not entitled to grope, disrespect, or rob strippers. This is their job, not their hobby, and they all need income. Clubs are not just some erotic show for guys to view while drinking.

    NOTE: anything I post here, outside of a direct quote, is my opinion only, which I am entitled to. Take it for what you estimate it is worth.

  3. #3
    Sitri
    Guest

    Default Re: FED can ID your Color Printer

    And don't forget that Microsoft embedded an identifying code in every electronic document that told what computer it was from, and that every network card has a unique MAC code that is encoded with every packet that is sent on the internet.

  4. #4
    God/dess threlayer's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Syracuse
    Posts
    5,921
    Thanks
    369
    Thanked 419 Times in 290 Posts
    My Mood
    Fine

    Default Re: FED can ID your Color Printer

    Quote Originally Posted by Sitri
    And don't forget that Microsoft embedded an identifying code -GUID- in every electronic document that told what computer it was from, and that every network card has a unique MAC code that is encoded with every packet that is sent on the internet.
    I was wondering if the NIC or MAC code is sent out beyond the router, I know the IP address of the router must be. If the MAC is sent out, that miught be a way of tracing down a stolen computer, at least a laptop.
    I loved going to strip clubs; I actually made some friends there. Now things are different for the clubs and for me. As a result I am not as happy.

    Customers are not entitled to grope, disrespect, or rob strippers. This is their job, not their hobby, and they all need income. Clubs are not just some erotic show for guys to view while drinking.

    NOTE: anything I post here, outside of a direct quote, is my opinion only, which I am entitled to. Take it for what you estimate it is worth.

  5. #5
    God/dess Deogol's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    5,493
    Thanks
    120
    Thanked 50 Times in 35 Posts

    Default Re: FED can ID your Color Printer

    I believe the MAC stops at the next ethernet switch. But people should be aware that some network technologies broadcast the entire packet to everyone and then their computer decides if it is for it or not. Programs that "sniff" out packets are used to intercept data broadcast out but meant for another computer (which can be used properly - but can also be used badly!)

    I believe the router works at a protocol higher than ethernet and basically blows that level away assembling a packet for the higher level protocol (being TCP/IP usually though I have worked with X.25 too) to be sent on to the next network (which may or may not be ethernet which MAC addresses are associated with) or host.

    Anyhow, back on point - the real danger of this is not to people printing money, but people in communist or totalitarian regimes printing fliers and leaving them to be read. They can be identified and thrown in jail based on this information simply for trying to make others aware of freedoms like our own.

  6. #6
    God/dess Casual Observer's Avatar
    Joined
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Boston MA
    Posts
    5,670
    Thanks
    35
    Thanked 144 Times in 74 Posts

    Default Re: FED can ID your Color Printer

    I believe the MAC stops at the next ethernet switch.
    Actually, it's the next Layer 3 device.

    Programs that "sniff" out packets are used to intercept data broadcast out but meant for another computer (which can be used properly - but can also be used badly!)
    Correct.

    I believe the router works at a protocol higher than ethernet and basically blows that level away assembling a packet for the higher level protocol (being TCP/IP usually though I have worked with X.25 too) to be sent on to the next network (which may or may not be ethernet which MAC addresses are associated with) or host.
    Correct. Anything above Layer 3 will not use ethernet like a switch (Layer 2).
    Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.

    William F. Buckley, Jr.

  7. #7
    God/dess Mastridonicus's Avatar
    Joined
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Paradigm City
    Posts
    6,784
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts

    Default Re: FED can ID your Color Printer

    Just remember, there is always a MAC involved, the question is at what point is one traceable to you, removed.
    People are not ruled by their memories.

Similar Threads

  1. chart of the week - NY Fed + Philly Fed + ISM
    By Melonie in forum Dollar Den
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 09-17-2010, 09:51 AM
  2. fucking printer.
    By Corgan in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 09-25-2007, 09:12 PM
  3. Printer is offline, $#$#@[email protected]!!!!!!
    By greenidlady1 in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 06-15-2007, 08:23 AM
  4. Printer Recommendations
    By Katrine in forum Tech Talk
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 05-15-2004, 01:54 PM
  5. Printer Recommendations
    By Katrine in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 03-18-2004, 06:25 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •