Cheap Scanners Can "Fingerprint" Paper

carusoj writes "Researchers at Princeton University and University College London say they can identify unique information, essentially like a fingerprint, from any blank sheet of paper using any reasonably good scanner. The technique could be used to crack down on counterfeiting or even keep track of confidential documents. The researchers' paper on the finding is set to be presented at an IEEE security conference in Oakland, Calif., in May." Update: 03/10 22:43 GMT by T : J. Alex Halderman, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan and one of the authors of the study, writes with more: "My group has just put up a site about the work and a copy of the full paper, and we will probably add a video later tonight."

Comments

Dirty Fingers

[XaviorPenguin]

They could use this at Police Stations so that way they wouldn't have to use the fingerprint ink and such I would suppose.

Less cleanup, no paper towels to use to dry off your hands after you use soap and water to wash your hands. It would save some money in the long run....a very long run.

I always wonder

[bugs2squash]

when the next "law and order" story will center on the yellow dots that laser printers leave or, now, this paper fingerprinting. The "bug" will love it.

Re:I always wonder

[Anonymous Coward]

Can they fingerprint toilet paper? If so, maybe this could be used to detect if moon-ghosts have been using the toilets on space-ships returning to earth, while stowing away on board?

I wonder

[amori]

Taping my fingertips...

first

[Daver297]

First responder!

Re:first

[Daver297]

Ok, so I was a little too slow...

Fingerprints printed on paper can be used to fool

[Joe The Dragon]

Fingerprints printed on paper can be used to fool high end Fingerprints scanners as well the mythbusters did that.