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New Technique Could Trace Documents By Printer

Posted by timothy on from the better-than-a-notch-in-the-e dept.

An anonymous reader submits "From this article at Purdue News, 'Researchers at Purdue University have developed a method that will enable authorities to trace documents to specific printers, a technique law-enforcement agencies could use to investigate counterfeiting, forgeries and homeland security matters.' The neat thing is that they are exploiting the characteristics of the print process itself to identify the printer." <update> One of the folks e-mailed me to say that the HP LaserJet 9000dn was one of the big ones tested with.

5 of 287 comments (clear)

  1. Sorry but... by mfh · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The technique uses two methods to trace a document: first, by analyzing a document to identify characteristics that are unique for each printer, and second by designing printers to purposely embed individualized characteristics in documents.

    Sorry to rain on your parade, Homeland Security, but if counterfeiters can counterfeit hard currency worth a damn, they can certainly hack a printer to make it quickly change configurations at the drop of a hat. Get your marker and bic pens ready, all ye counterfeiters!

    --
    The dangers of knowledge trigger emotional distress in human beings.
    1. Re:Sorry but... by ZZeta · · Score: 4, Insightful

      In fact, a lot of effort seems to be put in stopping our regular Joe from counterfeiting hard currency. They have taken action against small time counterfeiters through this method or the hexagon (or was it a pentagon) that's printed in every 20 Dollars bill.

      But the really big counterfitter, the one that's printing millions of dollars every month doesn't use HP's Laserjet. Come on guys, do you really think they're printing currency in a small time printer?

      Government should be after big-time counterfiters, those settled in Colombia or North Korea. Those guys actually influence US economy.
      Not John Doe who amuzes himself printing 5 bucks in his HP printer to brag with his friends.

  2. Note to counterfeiters by multiplexo · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Purchase printer with cash. Do not register printer. Dispose of printer after a certain number of counterfeiting runs. Counterfeit more money to purchase more printers, repeat as necessary.

    As far as those who are concerned about the government secretly tracking them down by the printer signatures in their anonymous manifestoes I think there are other things to worry about from the government.

    --
    cheap labor conservatives - they want to keep you hungry enough to be thankful for minimum wage.
  3. Homeland by Halo- · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Ah yes.... "Homeland Security". I'm so sick of this word, it's like "paradigm shift" except polictically loaded. The "for the children" of our generation. Why is it no one can discuss anything vaguely security related without linking it to "Homeland Security"? It's practically to the point that your Happy Meal(tm) come with free Homeland Security(tm) inside!

    Does anyone beleive that if these devices make it to market, the "evil doers" are going to rush right out to the store and buy a printer with a "Homeland Security Inside" sticker on it? And then properly register it? Anyone with serious criminal intent is either going to use a non-equiped printer, or a printer which is stolen or misleadingly registered.

    Don't get me wrong, this is kinda cool, and I'm sure it will help for things like kidnappings, but "Homeland Security"? Give me a break.

  4. Say goodbye to the anonymous press. by gellenburg · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Jefferson is rolling over in his grave.