• mctoasterson@reddthat.com
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    1 day ago

    This has to be borderline useless as a positive identification tool, given that people can…

    1. Make their own models
    2. Run open source slicing software
    3. Inspect their own gcode
    4. Print from flashcard on a 100% offline printer with known clean firmware, such as the most common Ender 3.

    How about they just focus on other methods of apprehending violent criminals and leave hobbyists alone.

    • zipsglacier@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 day ago

      This is right, for as long as the fdm printer hobbyists can avoid the lockdown and enshittification that some printer brands are definitely pushing. The value of this paper, for it’s authors, seems more like a proof of concept: fingerprinting is possible. And I think that’s actually it’s same value for hobbyists: the problems with a closed system and proprietary printer firmware are not hypothetical.