General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: DHS Confirms That Optical Scan Vote-Counting Machines Easily Hacked [View all]politicat
(9,808 posts)The pens are worthless -- they're iodine and they react to the starch in regular copy paper. Use acid-free, linen-laid paper or a high quality newsprint, and the iodine test fails. The iodine test assumes that counterfeiters are going to cheap out on materials. That catches the casual counterfeiter, not the state-sponsored actor, the cartel willing to invest in a good letter-press system, or a highly motivated amateur.
Good CYMK digital printers can replicate the fine color hairs. Digital die cut and embossers can be used to replicate the feel of the letter-press. Sure, you have to hack the printer's software, since most of them have an anti-counterfeiting subroutine. But that's not that hard.
The fiberglass bands are the hard part right now, but state/cartel sponsored are bleaching $1s and $5s and turning them into $100s and $50s.
And that's just the stuff I know about because I read Wired and follow the Amazing Randi.
I get your analogy, but it's not a great one.