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Currency Detection Discovered in More Products

netbsd_fan writes "BUGTRAQ is reporting that anti-counterfeiting spyware is being found in more and more products. What is also interesting is that these products block fair uses of currency images which do not break the law. What incentive do printer manufacturers have to treat their customers like criminals? Is this a precursor to DRM in scanners, CD drives, and output devices?"

28 of 677 comments (clear)

  1. When they... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    When they counterfit scanners only counterfitters will have scanne... er, um never mind.

  2. We can use this ourselves by h4rm0ny · · Score: 4, Funny

    What I really want to be able to do is to incorporate this signature into my own images. It could be used to provide a modicum of image protection from the technophobes, or else to annoy people. I found a few details on how it works here. I particularly like a comment from one guy about how it blocks scanning of $20 bills...

    "You can still scan a $10 bill twice."

    :D

    --

    Aide-toi, le Ciel t'aidera - Jeanne D'Arc.
    1. Re:We can use this ourselves by dogdaze · · Score: 4, Funny

      Or put the pattern on your car license plate and stop those pesky red light cameras from printing images.

    2. Re:We can use this ourselves by GMFTatsujin · · Score: 2, Funny
      Supposedly the exact spacing and pattern of circles is trademarked and copyrighted.
      As in they control who can make a copy of the pattern?

      Talk about self-referencial. They got a copyright on an uncopiable design. I'm laughing my ass off.
  3. Just use an old version.. by junkymailbox · · Score: 2, Funny

    dont support the new version and be done with it ..

  4. What incentive?!?!? by koreth · · Score: 5, Funny
    Well, first of all, the government has a compelling...

    Hey, look! Over there! A terrorist!

    What were you asking me again, you traitor?

  5. Re:it's a test... by cubicledrone · · Score: 2, Funny

    Would anyone recognize them?

    --
    Business isn't willing to pay for products, innovation and careers, so we get brands, mortgage commercials and layoffs.
  6. I'm sorry Dave by ch-chuck · · Score: 5, Funny

    I cannot copy that benjamin

    --
    try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
  7. Re:This = good by Aardpig · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's like passing a law mandating an intelligence test before a computer can be purchased.

    Agreed. If a law like this were already in place, we would be spared stupid posts like yours.

    --
    Tubal-Cain smokes the white owl.
  8. 60dd4mn, 3w3 4R3 4 614nt 4m0n9 m3n!!! by Thud457 · · Score: 2, Funny
    GENIUS!
    That's the way to "think different"!

    (And I'm not just yankin' your chain!)

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  9. Vending machines? by tordon · · Score: 5, Funny

    If software can detect bank notes in printer drivers, why can't vending machines do it reliably?

  10. That explains it! by Call+Me+Black+Cloud · · Score: 4, Funny


    Thank you for your post. I've returned 6 printers and both PS and PSP so far. By some freak of nature, my newborn son has birthmarks arranged in the pattern shown in the PDF. Every time I've tried to work with his image the software wouldn't load it. Then when I finally resorted to MS Paint, the printers wouldn't print it!

    I was able to defeat this "feature" by drawing another birthmark on my son...problem solved! Thank you slashdot for saving the day...again.

  11. In other news by SharpFang · · Score: 3, Funny

    US central bank sent back to the producer a batch of professional heavy-duty printing machines they had bought in order to print dollar bills. The built-in money detection prevents them from printing the bills. They plan outsourcing production of US Dollars to India.

    In other news:
    US Inflation lowest since last 3 months.

    --
    45 5F E1 04 22 CA 29 C4 93 3F 95 05 2B 79 2A B2
  12. Re:"Do not copy" symbol by great_flaming_foo · · Score: 5, Funny
    It needs to be better publicized

    They tried to publicize it but for some reason their printer wouldn't work...

  13. My mare... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...has a built-in remote carrot detection.

  14. Re:it's a test... by gnu-generation-one · · Score: 2, Funny

    "One guy living in England told some me years ago that you can't photocopy currency on photocopiers. They just come out black."

    I hear you can buy colour copiers in England now...

  15. Re:"Do not copy" symbol by gnu-generation-one · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Effectively, there's now a standard symbol for "do not copy""

    Okay, print this symbol on your letterhead next time you write to your MP, and ask them to forward your letter (as you normally do when writing to MPs, they photocopy the letter, and forward it to the relevant department)

    Their secretaries will soon discover how easy this anticounterfeiting technique makes their lives... I wonder if any of them will put a postit note over the symbol to make it photocopy, or whether you can just include a load of them in the watermark. (a watermark in a watermark!)

  16. You might want to take a closer look by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Your child might actually be running afoul of the anti-Christ detection algorithms that were installed into software long before all this currency stuff. It looks for a specific pattern of 3 '6's on your child and should be helpful in alerting you to your child's status as the anti-Christ (along with the explained rash of deaths you must be experiencing). The quickest workaround is to change one of the 6s into an 8 with a sharpie.

    Why don't you post a picture of little Damien. I bet he's a real cutie patooty.

  17. Re:So What? by diablobynight · · Score: 4, Funny

    yes because I can go and buy the paper I would need to even come close to making the feel of a dollar bill, but more importantly, what about for birthdays when I take 100 dollar bills then super impose my ass on the bill and give it to people in cards. I want to still keep doing that, the joke never gets old, the person sees an excellent 100$ bill pulls it fully out of the card and sees my ass with full fruit basket, it's beautiful.

    --
    Anonymous Cowards - Oh God, How I hate you
  18. Re:it's a test... by bshort404 · · Score: 2, Funny

    You're either a troll or an idiot.

    The 51% has to be from the same bill. You can't mix and match. i.e. you couldn't take 51 bills, shave a 1% slice off the edge and then spend the 51 bills while turning in the 51 shavings for a brand new dollar.

    --
    -B
  19. Re:So What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
    Oh, not that! A princile has been established! There's nothing to stop Them (by "Them" I of course refer to the Military Industrial Complex) from dragging us all into prison now for not tapping phone lines for Them! Where the hell is my tinfoil hat!? I need protection while I finish building a Faraday cage around my house!!!

    News flash: Slippery Slope arguments always represent the desperate FUD of extremists. Always. Left, right, doesn't matter... If you rely on such arguments, you are an enemy of all that is moderate and sensible.

  20. Re:it's a test... by camusflage · · Score: 2, Funny

    It is not, however, blocking the patirot act reproductions at this time.

    As I understand, this code is actually actively encouraging the reproduction of the PATRIOT Act by allowing reproductions with updated version numbers to be copied at will.

    --
    The truth about Scientology, Xenu, and you: Operation Clambake
  21. How to defeat the copy protection by lhand · · Score: 3, Funny
    You can easly defeat the copy protection in virtually all products by simply
    [ Notice: Text removed by slashdot anti-copying ] [ protection. For information please go to the ] [ http://www.rulesforabuse.org site. Thank you. ]
    and press print. Viola! Instant copies.
  22. New GIMP plugin by dimss · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now it's time to write new GIMP plugin called "print a buck".

    Input parameters:
    1) Currency: USD/EUR/LVL/...
    2) Resolution: 300/600/1200/2400 dpi
    3) Value: 1/2/5/10/20/50...

  23. Re:"Do not copy" symbol by budgenator · · Score: 2, Funny

    the only problem I see is copying the do not copy symbol on to the copy you don't want copied. That was like saying GNU means GNU is not unix with straight face

    --
    Apocalypse Cancelled, Sorry, No Ticket Refunds
  24. Re:it's a test... by Alan+Cox · · Score: 3, Funny

    The bank and currency people know its only one small item in the arsenal, but until they get rfid in money with digital authentication and biometrics in passports it raises the barriers when its in a printer.

    In software its plain dangerous. If you are going to rob a bank remember to wear $20 notes blown up in various sizes all over your shirt, and be happy law enforcement can't open the footage 8)

  25. Re:So What? by glitch23 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I want to still keep doing that, the joke never gets old, the person sees an excellent 100$ bill pulls it fully out of the card and sees my ass with full fruit basket, it's beautiful.

    The picture is beautiful or the joke? Please make the separation.

    --
    this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. -- Lincoln, Gettysburg Address
  26. Please visit the site by bobalu · · Score: 2, Funny

    because *I* did, and unless about a million OTHER people thing I did they may THINK I actually got there by trying to print a picture of currency which I would never ever do because I'm trying to think of ways to scam people *legally*, really really I swear and oh God i don't want the freakin' Secret Service to visit my boss, or well, fuck the neighbors but I swear I thought they said "Secret Squirrel" you see and I.... oh never mind.

    --
    The revolution will NOT be televised.