Images: EFF cracks printer tracking code

2 of 6
  • printer code

    printer code

    Sleuths from the Electronic Frontier Foundation have analyzed a tracking code that's printed on every page produced by a Xerox Docucolor 12 laser printer. Many printer manufacturers embed code to give the Secret Service a tool to track counterfeiters, although it can easily be used for other purposes.

    The tracking code is printed in tiny yellow dots which are generally not visibile by the naked eye under white light. Under blue light and magnified, the yellow dots appear black.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • yellow dots

    yellow dots

    This is what the dots look like under 60x magnification photographed by a Digital Blue QX5 computer microscope.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • 21819.jpg

    Here is a magnified image of the code as it appears on a printed document.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • show through

    show through

    The ink for the code will show through print.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • enhancing the dots

    enhancing the dots

    This computer graphics overlay is not to scale but it allows easier analysis of the pattern.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • connecting the dots

    connecting the dots

    Here's what the dots reveal: the date, time and printer's serial number on every printed page.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

2 of 6

yellow dots

This is what the dots look like under 60x magnification photographed by a Digital Blue QX5 computer microscope.

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

2 of 6

Related Topics:

PCs Servers Storage Networking Data Centers

Related Galleries

    • 1 of 3

  • Netgear AXE11000 Nighthawk Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6E router

    The Netgear AXE11000 offers combined speeds up to 10.8Gbps, is built around a powerful 1.8GHz quad-core processor, and can deliver fast and reliable connections for up to 60 devices ...

  • Netgear LM1200 4G LTE modem

    The Netgear LM1200 4G LTE modem offers a reliable LKTE alternative for fixed-line internet.

  • OWC USB-C Travel Dock E

    A single mini dock that allows you to connect, charge, display, network, and import on-the-go, all through a single cable and a single USB-C port.

  • Satechi hardware highlights

    Satechi has put together "Work from Home" collection, highlighting some of the essential accessories for those who are working from home or distance learning. 5 percent of all sales ...