Warning: ID thieves targeting digital photocopiers

by Stevie Smith - May 19 2010, 10:07

In the main, annual Christmas parties at the office are remembered for the dismal buffet, the abject disappointment of Secret Santa, and the alcohol-inspired rush of carefree abandon where the photocopier is concerned.

However, given that a CBS News investigation recently revealed that most digital photocopiers store all scanned images forever, budding office exhibitionists may want to think twice when it comes to pressing their exposed butt cheeks and bosoms onto the copier’s inviting – and seemingly innocent – glass plate.

From a more serious standpoint, the report uncovered that many digital machines retain an electronic image of what is being scanned within their internal hard drives, enabling identity thieves to gather sensitive information scanned from personal documents, medical records, social security forms, passports and such like.

Once an attacker has targeted and purchased a second-hand digital copier, it is apparently relatively easy to retrieve possibly compromising information from the hard drive by simply utilising software that’s freely available from the Internet.

Following calls for increased photocopier security by Massachusetts Congressman Ed Markey, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has this week said it will launch an official investigation into the matter and inform device manufacturers of the problem.

“I think the copy machine industry has to step up, provide the leadership and technology that insures this information is scrubbed from copy machines,” exclaimed Rep. Markey in the CBS report.

Speaking with regard to the practices of government agencies in relation to the hard drives inside leased copiers, the FTC has said all internal drives are owned by their respective departments and all such drives are erased and destroyed before the machine is returned.

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