Application of Adobe® Photoshop® CC 2018 for identifying color laser printer source of Xerox® brand

Abstract

Background: In a field of digital forensic science, we have struggled to prove and keep any evidence in its most original form. The seized source of color laser printers in forgery crimes has been still an awkward issue today in digital forensic labs for identification. Till now no any scientific method has reported at all over the world that could be applied to make a success in an investigation for identifying the source of color laser printers with accuracy ratio 100%. Method: We have explored an advanced security feature that has embedded in the color laser printouts of Xerox® brand. Adobe® Photoshop® CC 2018 has used as an indirect and nondestructive tool for our work. Results: In this study, we could detect the hidden information (steganalysis) embedded in the color laser printouts of Xerox® brand candidate. Therefore, we could extract the clear precise machine identification code pattern corresponding to each color laser printer of Xerox® brand selected. Conclusion: Via Adobe® Photoshop® CC 2018, we could successfully track all active security features characteristic of the color laser printers of Xerox® brand. Moreover, we could detect the identity and uniqueness of each color laser printer which had studied with an accuracy ratio reached to a hundred percent.