Copy Machines, a Security Risk?

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the good, old-fashioned copy machine. But, as Armen Keteyian reports, advanced technology has opened a dangerous hole in data security.

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  News & Politics

[Chris Mann]

Oh crap. All those copies of my ass.

[radicalgarbage02]

That's not true. It's much more complex than that, but because it's an inconvenient truth that you don't know how to wipe data correctly (multi-pass writes of all zeroes and then all ones in iterative succession and a bit-by-bit verification), you chose to post a fear-mongering comment.

As long as you're thorough, there's no reason to fear hard drives.

Furthermore, most copiers have the option to not cache old copies. CBS is known for yellow journalism concerning technology.

[pzgnexus]

Uhh yEA the upgraded model with no hard rice will cost 599 more. Thanks for your business

[Chris Mann]

This is a real concern that has resonated with the people. Maybe you are out of touch with the common man?

[osakanone]

You can always rely on Youtube to vote up the most insightful and non-trite comment to the top.

[AshlockT]

yeah this sounds like a very special case and it's absurd they'd allow for such a design flaw. I know a few things about file hooks and deleting the file after actions on it have ceased, if need be, is pretty straight forward, it's not rocket surgery. Wouldn't mind getting in on the racket though, i'd kill it and dance on top of it.

[AshlockT]

Well hopefully stuff like this puts an end to this absurdity, before someone else makes a business out of buying the used printers, getting as much potential information to use against people and then reselling them for profits all around. If no one made a fuss, i'm fairly sure the so called manufacturer wouldn't stop selling a $500 security feature that's really a common sense patch.

[AshlockT]

I love the $500 option for NOT storing everything it never really needs to and marking that as an upgrade. I'd laugh them out for suggesting that and switch companies in a heart beat.

[NippleFruit]

Hehe "crap"

[janelle kimball]

good thing no one is going to go out now, buy used copiers, get the free online forensic software and download for malicious purposes or lulz. as we are being informed and helped others now are being attacked thanks for the info. i feel better now thatn1 billion new ppl can own my balase.

[janelle kimball]

i had not thought of that.

[UnknownXV]

The point is that using a public copier or a copier from an office is potentially dangerous. Your own personal information from your employer may have been stored in a copier that was sold off and bought by someone else. That's disturbing.