This is both true and untrue. On the one hand yes printers do this. On the other hand if you never registered the warranty then it’s unlikely that Best Buy still has record of which printer you bought 10 years ago.
It could still connect it to your region. It’d be best to grab one while you’re traveling somewhere ideally so even if they trace it it’ll take them to a place that’s fairly inaccurate.
ever allowed your printer to update over the internet? chances are that same serial number attached to the printer, which is now encoded into your document, is now attached to an IP that can be meaningfully time/date attached to your e.g. cable modem MAC address which is attached to the location of the printer - at your house/work/etc… and thats just one publically known mechanism. if your printer is attached to a network with internet access, are you sure its never pinged the manufacturer? are you suresure?
never underestimate the trail of digital forensics you leave behind when there is a sufficiently motivated adversary. seriously evaluate your risks and harm exposure and plan accordingly. just sayin’
For those not aware: all commercially available color printers leave a pattern of almost-microscopic yellow dots which contain the printer serial number. This makes it possible for law enforcement to trace the origin of any document produced with such a printer.
If you’re going to produce untraceable color artwork at scale, you need to use silk screening, or a similar DIY printmaking technique.
It’s okay. This “vandalism” reeks of false flag, so law enforcement will be pointed to their office printer.
This is both true and untrue. On the one hand yes printers do this. On the other hand if you never registered the warranty then it’s unlikely that Best Buy still has record of which printer you bought 10 years ago.
As ever YMMV.
Printers are also often e-waste even while still functional ending up in places like recycled good shops, thrift stores etc.
I could take cash to my local Goodwill right now and get a printer that would have no connection to me.
It could still connect it to your region. It’d be best to grab one while you’re traveling somewhere ideally so even if they trace it it’ll take them to a place that’s fairly inaccurate.
ever allowed your printer to update over the internet? chances are that same serial number attached to the printer, which is now encoded into your document, is now attached to an IP that can be meaningfully time/date attached to your e.g. cable modem MAC address which is attached to the location of the printer - at your house/work/etc… and thats just one publically known mechanism. if your printer is attached to a network with internet access, are you sure its never pinged the manufacturer? are you sure sure?
never underestimate the trail of digital forensics you leave behind when there is a sufficiently motivated adversary. seriously evaluate your risks and harm exposure and plan accordingly. just sayin’
Does this hold true for black and white laser printers as well?
If its electronic, assume its compromised.
Not that I am aware of