Exploring How a Label Maker Works (and Revealing a Security Vulnerability)
I’ve had label makers on my mind recently since Sean Ragan did a comparison of his old and new Brother machines. I still have and frequently use the same Brother PT-65 that he (and I) bought about 20 years ago.
In this BigClive video, Clive looks under the hood of his fancy new Brother PTE300VP to figure out how label makers actually work and to examine some of the more advanced features of the PTE300VP, such as cable-optimized labeling and label flags.
In the process of the video, a security vulnerability of label makers is revealed. The waste tape for the black film layer goes back into the cartridge. If you take apart the spent cartridge, and access this reel, you can see read everything (in negative) that was printed out on the machine (which could be a problem if any sensitive data has been printed on the tape).
8-6-2021 (August 6, 2021) is the Snakiest day of the year and it’s also this year’s CircuitPython Day! The day highlights all things CircuitPython and Python on Hardware. See you there!
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
