HOWTO read the secret forensic dots in your laser-printer output

Cory Doctorow 3:44 am Thu Oct 23, 2008

The Electronic Frontier Foundation's posted a nifty Instructable video demonstrating the technique for spotting the secret spy-codes that many color laser-printers and copiers embed in their output. These dots were long-rumoured, but it wasn't until EFF discovered them that their existence was verified and their code was cracked. EFF's working on Freedom of Information Act requests to uncover which government agencies requested these dots, and what they do with them, but in the meantime, you can use the techniques in this video to spy on your friends and neighbours, just like the Feds!

Yellow Dots of Mystery: Is Your Printer Spying on You?

(via Make)

See also:

* Seeing Yellow: call your printer's manufacturer and ask why they spy on you
* EFF cracks hidden snitch codes in color laser prints
* Do forensic printer marks slow down printers?

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