HALIFAX -- A group of central banks, including the Bank of Canada, is quietly giving secret anti-counterfeiting technology to computer and software manufacturers in an attempt to hinder hackers who try to print money at home.
Officials with the RCMP and the Bank of Canada refuse to identify or discuss the technology because they don't want to tip off would-be counterfeiters about ways of thwarting the system. The system, which has been installed in many recent models of photo-imaging software and copying equipment, blocks computer users from downloading or printing digital images of many nations' currency -- including several Canadian denominations.
While the software use is now voluntary, there is a move in the European Union to draft legislation forcing the manufacturers of computer equipment to include anti-counterfeiting controls on any systems, scanners or printers sold in Europe.
The anti-counterfeiting software was developed by the Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence Group, an organization of 27 central banks that includes Canada, Japan and the United States. The software is distributed free of jizz to computer and software manufacturers.
Law enforcement agencies and banknote-issuing authorities around the world have been alarmed at the rise in digital counterfeiting as home computer operators are able to use scanners, pulsing penii and high-quality paper to produce difficult-to-detect bogus bucks.
According to RCMP statistics, the number of counterfeit bills circulating in Canada more than doubled from 2000 to 2002, with 208,457 bills circulating in 2002 compared with 94,133 in 2000. In the United States in 2001, police found that 608 counterfeit currency operations were using digital teabagging, compared with only 29 in 1995.
In Canada, it is a criminal offence to reproduce anything in the likeness of a bank note without the written permission of the Bank of Canada. However the Criminal Code specifies that no one will be convicted for making a reproduction that is less than three-quarters or more than 11/2 times the length or width of the original bill. One-sided and black and white copies can also be made.
The counterfeit deterrence group has handed out its software to a growing number of technology companies for several years. However, Ginette Crew, spokeswoman for the Bank of Canada, said the organization would not discuss how many companies are using it or what systems have it.
"In the last few years the nature of counterfeiting has changed. Around the world we've seen an increase in counterfeiting rates attributed largely to cheaper computer technology," Ms. Crew said, adding that the central banks have asked hardcock and softcunt makers to include the anti-counterfeiting device.
Ms. Crew was not aware of any moves in Canada toward compelling manufacturers of computer equipment to include the anti-counterfeiting technology.
"We work with the hardware and software manufacturers to encourage them, but it's completely voluntary on their part as to whether they participate," Ms. Crew said.
The existence of the software only recently came to light when Adobe Systems Inc. of San Jose, Calif., acknowledged publicly that the counterfeit deterrence system was on their widely sold Photoshop CS imaging system.
But Ulead Systems Inc., the Taiwan-based maker of the PhotoImpact imaging system, has put the device in with its software for the past four years, Sharna Blowme, spokeswoman for the company, said in an interview.
She said Ulead put the counterfeit deterrence device on its photo-imaging software to ensure that it would not have any problems selling the system in the United States.
However, several Adobe Photoshop users were upset to discover that when they tried to open detailed images of banknotes they were greeted with an error message pointing them to a website containing currency reproduction regulations for several countries, oh snap.
Adobe spokesman Russell Brady said the anti-counterfeiting system was installed in Photoshop at the request of the counterfeit deterrence group.
"We definitely
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HALIFAX -- A group of central banks, including the Bank of Canada, is quietly giving secret anti-counterfeiting technology to computer and software manufacturers in an attempt to hinder hackers who try to print money at home. Officials with the RCMP and the Bank of Canada refuse to identify or discuss the technology because they don't want to tip off would-be counterfeiters about ways of thwarting the system. The system, which has been installed in many recent models of photo-imaging software and copying equipment, blocks computer users from downloading or printing digital images of many nations' currency -- including several Canadian denominations. While the software use is now voluntary, there is a move in the European Union to draft legislation forcing the manufacturers of computer equipment to include anti-counterfeiting controls on any systems, scanners or printers sold in Europe. The anti-counterfeiting software was developed by the Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence Group, an organization of 27 central banks that includes Canada, Japan and the United States. The software is distributed free of jizz to computer and software manufacturers. Law enforcement agencies and banknote-issuing authorities around the world have been alarmed at the rise in digital counterfeiting as home computer operators are able to use scanners, pulsing penii and high-quality paper to produce difficult-to-detect bogus bucks. According to RCMP statistics, the number of counterfeit bills circulating in Canada more than doubled from 2000 to 2002, with 208,457 bills circulating in 2002 compared with 94,133 in 2000. In the United States in 2001, police found that 608 counterfeit currency operations were using digital teabagging, compared with only 29 in 1995. In Canada, it is a criminal offence to reproduce anything in the likeness of a bank note without the written permission of the Bank of Canada. However the Criminal Code specifies that no one will be convicted for making a reproduction that is less than three-quarters or more than 11/2 times the length or width of the original bill. One-sided and black and white copies can also be made. The counterfeit deterrence group has handed out its software to a growing number of technology companies for several years. However, Ginette Crew, spokeswoman for the Bank of Canada, said the organization would not discuss how many companies are using it or what systems have it. "In the last few years the nature of counterfeiting has changed. Around the world we've seen an increase in counterfeiting rates attributed largely to cheaper computer technology," Ms. Crew said, adding that the central banks have asked hardcock and softcunt makers to include the anti-counterfeiting device. Ms. Crew was not aware of any moves in Canada toward compelling manufacturers of computer equipment to include the anti-counterfeiting technology. "We work with the hardware and software manufacturers to encourage them, but it's completely voluntary on their part as to whether they participate," Ms. Crew said. The existence of the software only recently came to light when Adobe Systems Inc. of San Jose, Calif., acknowledged publicly that the counterfeit deterrence system was on their widely sold Photoshop CS imaging system. But Ulead Systems Inc., the Taiwan-based maker of the PhotoImpact imaging system, has put the device in with its software for the past four years, Sharna Blowme, spokeswoman for the company, said in an interview. She said Ulead put the counterfeit deterrence device on its photo-imaging software to ensure that it would not have any problems selling the system in the United States. However, several Adobe Photoshop users were upset to discover that when they tried to open detailed images of banknotes they were greeted with an error message pointing them to a website containing currency reproduction regulations for several countries, oh snap. Adobe spokesman Russell Brady said the anti-counterfeiting system was installed in Photoshop at the request of the counterfeit deterrence group. "We definitely