### Yellow Dots of Mystery: Is Your Printer Spying on You?Imagine that every time you print a document, it automatically includes a **secret code** that could identify the printer—and potentially, the person who used it. Sounds like something from a spy movie, right?Unfortunately, this scenario isn't fictional. Most color laser printers and color copiers are designed to print invisible tracking codes on every single printed page. These codes reveal which machine produced a document and, in some cases, when the document was printed or copied.For more information, refer to:EFForg, and Instructables. "Yellow Dots of Mystery: Is Your Printer Spying on You?" *Instructables*, Instructables, 29 Aug. 2022, [Instructables Article](https://www.instructables.com/Yellow-Dots-of-Mystery-Is-Your-Printer-Spying-on-/).#### DiscussionConsider your reaction to this information. Were you aware of these invisible tracking codes? Do you believe printer manufacturers should inform customers about this? Why or why not?

Answered: could be used to identify the printer…

Database System Concepts

7th Edition

ISBN:9780078022159

Author:Abraham Silberschatz Professor, Henry F. Korth, S. Sudarshan

Publisher:Abraham Silberschatz Professor, Henry F. Korth, S. Sudarshan

Chapter1: Introduction

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 1PE

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### Yellow Dots of Mystery: Is Your Printer Spying on You?

Imagine that every time you print a document, it automatically includes a **secret code** that could identify the printer—and potentially, the person who used it. Sounds like something from a spy movie, right?

Unfortunately, this scenario isn't fictional. Most color laser printers and color copiers are designed to print invisible tracking codes on every single printed page. These codes reveal which machine produced a document and, in some cases, when the document was printed or copied.

For more information, refer to:
EFForg, and Instructables. "Yellow Dots of Mystery: Is Your Printer Spying on You?" *Instructables*, Instructables, 29 Aug. 2022, [Instructables Article](https://www.instructables.com/Yellow-Dots-of-Mystery-Is-Your-Printer-Spying-on-/).

#### Discussion
Consider your reaction to this information. Were you aware of these invisible tracking codes? Do you believe printer manufacturers should inform customers about this? Why or why not?

Expert Solution

Step 1

Machine-generated codes:-

A Machine Identification Code (MIC), also referred to as printer steganography, yellow dots, tracking dots, or secret dots is a digital watermark that some color laser printers and copiers leave on each printed page. This allows identification of the device that was used to print a document and provides information about the author.

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