Canon announced, in partnership with Hitachi, a new security system for Canon Photocopiers
. Fingerprint identification will be used to control use of the photocopier in secure locations and provide improvement on pin id numbers. Whilst the internet buzz focus on the storage of data on copier hard drives and the potential dangers of used digital photocopiers being sold containing sensitive information, Canon Photocopiers have stated their hard drives are securely encrypted and cannot be accessed.
Canon Copiers new technology will scan finger prints to potentially stop people abusing the copier. This is promoted as an advancement of the pin system commonly used by banks that comes as standard on most photocopiers. Critics have argued the cost of the new technology outweighs any potential benefit for a company or organization. Canon however new fingerprint system could be vital in secure areas where photocopiers can cause a security leak. The finger print scanner would prevent abuse of other personnel's pin numbers and ensure culpability.
Photocopier hard drives that record all activity on the copier have come under intense scrutiny. Both CBS and the News Of The World have accentuated in recent internet news that data can be read from old copier hard drives that is extremely damaging. News organizations were able to hack private data from hard drives of used photocopiers and alerted security departments in both the USA and UK over potential data leakage.
Canon Photocopiers are confident that encryption, approved by departments such as the NSA, protect sensitive information on their copiers and that their hard drives can't be hacked. Sharp, Xerox and many other leading copier manufacturers have been quick to respond offering advice online and offering secure removal of data at the end of the photocopiers cycle.
Canon Copiers new fingerprint scan technology is their latest security tool. Building on existing features such as encryption and secure printing. Canon Copiers Japan has launched its fingerprint identification on all new imageRUNNER ADVANCE canon photocopier machines and is designed to work programs such as Java J2ME (MEAP). The new security measure means that personnel with the proper clearance will have to be physically at the machine to use it or collect remote printing. The Canon Copiers fingerprint scanner is expected to be for sale outside of Japan in 2011. The new fingerprint identification system will be targeted to security-focused organisations and corporations with a predicted price of $1500 to US clients.