May 11, 2007

New Computer Program to Reassemble Shredded Stasi Files Shredded documents are now deshreddable thanks to an ambitious young computer programme from the Fraunhofer Institute, adding another brick in the wall that holds back our civilization's ability to forget. Will there soon be no way to escape the data panopticon?
posted by Zorp 17 years ago
  • Sweet. Maybe now I can start selling my "Shred on Arrival" product/recipe and make some real money. 1. Shred your document. 2. For every one hundred sheets shredded, add one ounce of feces. 3. Mix well. I plan to market this by selling my shredding recipe/cookbook and also selling one ounce pre-packaged bags of feces.
  • That's quite fascinating - though I wonder how well it will work when they get to the uniform strips? Welcome, new monkey! A nice first post, and I quite enjoyed taking a quick look-see at your drawings (assuming those are yours). 'nockle, you may be on to something there.
  • Wel, shit. *fires up 55-gallon drum "burn box"*
  • There's only one surefire disposal method for sensitive files. *rips paper page in four, crumples, chews, swallows*
  • Are you sure about that, Flagpole? Cellulose fibers are not digestible - - I wouldn't be surprised if there's a forensic scientist out there who has attempted to recover "paper" evidence from feces. Even ashes from burnt paper can be treated in a special process that reveals printing/handwriting. My method (usually called upon when I need to dispose of a receipt showing full credit card details, for example): hand shred in tiny bits and "scatter" in public. A small bit will go in a dumpster. A small bit will go down a storm drain. A small bit will be given to the wind to carry where it may. A small bit to the subway bowels. Etc...
  • Do you really take bits of credit card receipts down into the subway to dispose of?
  • By the way, State and Federal laws, as well as Visa and Mastercard regulations, require that credit card numbers be truncated on all electronic receipts now. The only credit card receipts that should ever have your full number are ones that are produced with a manual imprinter (knucklebuster thingie). If you're getting whole card numbers, call Visa or Mastercard and blow the merchant in. They'll get fined, they'll stop doing it, consumers will be happy.
  • ETA, that's in the US. Your country may vary.
  • I almost double posted this. Whew! Odd that our handles are so similar ... are you my non-evil twin, Zorp?!? I can add that Fraunhofer owns certain key patents concerned with the MP3 audio file format. So when you're downloading MP3 files, you're fighting communism!!!