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l3v1ck
What's a life?
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 10:21 am Posts: 12700 Location: The Right Side of the Pennines (metaphorically & geographically)
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CLICKYHands up anyone who knows anyone who still uses dot matrix printers. Me neither.
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Wed Aug 11, 2010 9:45 am |
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james016
Doesn't have much of a life
Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 5:52 pm Posts: 1899
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We use one for our ticket printer but it is in a large metal box in a locked room. It will be retired soon when we move to e-ticketing.
_________________ My Flickr PageNow with added ball and chain.
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Wed Aug 11, 2010 9:54 am |
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Spreadie
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:06 pm Posts: 6355 Location: IoW
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Quite a lot of people still use dot-matrix printers. Usually, as we do, for multi-part conveyance tickets.
I'm not suggesting that we print out confidential information on these printers, just simply that we still use them.
_________________ Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes; after that, who cares?! He's a mile away and you've got his shoes!
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Wed Aug 11, 2010 9:54 am |
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big_D
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:25 pm Posts: 10691 Location: Bramsche
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Hand up here... Payroll still uses them, as do sales and logistics (NCR paper for multiple copies). I think we have about 20 heavy duty Epsons (5000 series).
_________________ "Do you know what this is? Hmm? No, I can see you do not. You have that vacant look in your eyes, which says hold my head to your ear, you will hear the sea!" - Londo Molari
Executive Producer No Agenda Show 246
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Wed Aug 11, 2010 10:19 am |
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Amnesia10
Legend
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:02 am Posts: 29240 Location: Guantanamo Bay (thanks bobbdobbs)
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This is a risk that is irrelevant to the average person. I thought that this was more of a risk of if the ink tape falling into the wrong hands. This will only be of use to government spy agencies who have the resources to convert this data. I would imagine that each brand of ink jet has audio characteristics that might confuse the external listener. It is also to block out with anti noise or sound insulation.
_________________Do concentrate, 007... "You are gifted. Mine is bordering on seven seconds." https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTg5MzczNTkhttp://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwx404couk-21
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Wed Aug 11, 2010 10:32 am |
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ProfessorF
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:56 pm Posts: 12030
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The same technique has been applied to keyboards. One reason touchscreen/non physical keyboards are slightly more secure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystroke_logging
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Wed Aug 11, 2010 10:46 am |
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Amnesia10
Legend
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:02 am Posts: 29240 Location: Guantanamo Bay (thanks bobbdobbs)
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Key loggers need physical access, though for 99% of users the biggest threat is the keystroke logger because it can give access to passwords. Printers are a lower risk.
_________________Do concentrate, 007... "You are gifted. Mine is bordering on seven seconds." https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTg5MzczNTkhttp://astore.amazon.co.uk/wwwx404couk-21
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Wed Aug 11, 2010 10:53 am |
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ProfessorF
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:56 pm Posts: 12030
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Well, you only need access to the audio of either the printer or the keyboard. You just need a mic in the right place.
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Wed Aug 11, 2010 10:56 am |
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james016
Doesn't have much of a life
Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 5:52 pm Posts: 1899
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Ah but now you can analyse the smudges and hack a device. http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/security/36 ... ge-attacks
_________________ My Flickr PageNow with added ball and chain.
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Wed Aug 11, 2010 11:19 am |
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JJW009
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:58 pm Posts: 8767 Location: behind the sofa
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My Star LC-10 is still in use. They still stock the ribbons for this 20 year old printer in my local Staples!
It's incredibly cheap to run, the output is fine for text and it does carbon copies. Not that I remember the last time I personally used carbon.
_________________jonbwfc's law: "In any forum thread someone will, no matter what the subject, mention Firefly." When you're feeling too silly for x404, youRwired.net
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Wed Aug 11, 2010 5:47 pm |
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Spreadie
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:06 pm Posts: 6355 Location: IoW
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 I used to have one of those, I even got one of those accoustic cabinets for it (was a freebie).
_________________ Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes; after that, who cares?! He's a mile away and you've got his shoes!
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Wed Aug 11, 2010 8:12 pm |
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