Ink jet printer safe from prying Secret Service eyes, Laser jet not |
Don’t have much sympathy for counterfeiters, but I see a few problems with Laser Printers having special dots that reveal the serial number of the printer to the Secret Service. Why wouldn’t counterfeiters simply not register the printers? Or buy the printers second hand through a party that paid cash? Knowing the serial number and time/date sold doesn’t completely finger the buyer as the counterfeiter, does it?
“There’s nothing about this technology that limits its application to counterfeit investigations,” says Seth Schoen, a computer programmer with the Electronic Frontier Foundation. “Some people who aren’t doing anything wrong may have their privacy threatened.” Schoen’s tests have found the dots produced by 111 color laser printers made by 13 companies including Xerox, Canon, Hewlett-Packard, Epson and Brother.
Privacy concerns seem not to be the biggest issue here. The bigger issue is whether or not this would actually help track down the counterfeiter. I’m not Perry Mason, but while the serial number might identify the printer used, it doesn’t mean:
1) the counterfeiter is the same person who bought the printer.
2) the store can identify who it sold the printer to. Does every store track the identity of the printer sold. I know if you buy a warranty or something, the store will get that information, but what if a warranty isn’t purchased?
Even though I’m not a counterfeiter and don’t plan on ever being one this gives me even more reasons NOT to register any laser printer I buy in the future, as well as give the store personally identifying information about me with my purchase. I don’t like how stores always try and identify me for every little purchase anyway. I’m buying a CD and you need my phone number? Why?
However I use rewards and cash back cards and those identify me, so my purchases are already being tracked and identified by several places. Go figure.
Did this post make you go hmm?
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I just LOVE it when a store asks me for personal information such as my phone number or even my zip code. Without blinking an eye or batting an eyelash I tell them: That will cost you $25,000. Sometimes I say $50,000 or some specific number like $46,570.13. The cashier looks at me like I am an alien speaking in a foreign tongue! I will explain that if they want to gather data about me, they need to PAY me. ME is not for sale. If I am, it will cost you. Of course they alway say “we neer sell” or “this is to help serve you” but I NEVER, EVER give more information than I need to give them.
Comment by Tammy — July 17, 2008 @ 9:35 pm PST
I usually just say ” No Thank you” when cashiers ask for my phone number. There are some exceptions however. For example, some stores have coupons and deals that I would not otherwise have without being on a mailing list. The savings is pretty significant ( for example we have a baby and have saved so much money from baby store coupons as well as manufacturer coupons from being on some lists), and I guess worth it to me. In general, however, I hate it.
I did used to work in sales at a store that required asking, so I sympathize with the lowly paid cashiers who have to ask the questions- like the one who asked if my item was on a baby registry and ask for my phone number for the purchase of a bottled water. For larger purchases, usually the only benefit is if you are someone who loses receipts. Then the store can look up your order if you need to return.
I almost never register any purchases. I doubt I have ever registered a printer. I guess I never saw any reason to.
Comment by Greg Smith — August 10, 2008 @ 12:04 pm PST