Krebs on Security starts off with an interesting article on how an ATM Skimmer Transmits Stolen Data Via Text Message. The focus of the article then derails into a tangent about a pencil in one of the photos:

The markings on the pencil show it to be a “Koh-I-Noor” drafting pencil, a brand of writing utensil first introduced in 1890, according to leadholder.com, which bills itself as the online “pencil museum.” Leadholder.com says this writing stick established a number of trends in pencil design that we now take for granted, most notably the yellow finish, a trait that other pencil manufacturers would later imitate. More importantly, the maker of the Koh-I-Noor, a company called L&C Hardmuth, is based in the Czech Republic.

The same photo shows the #1 button has only QZ. This indicates that the photos are being taken by someone in Australia. The pencil appears in an earlier photo as well but it is not clear why.

I can see the point (pun not intended) in getting excited about tracing the pencil, but it is less relevant than a keypad. You are unlikely to see a #1 button with QZ outside of Australia. That matters more than the pencil because it has to be used in the criminal operation. The pencil’s origin could illustrate (pun not intended) the personality or preference of the person taking photos, or be a clue to the environment the photos were taken. That being said we also could analyze the wood grain of the table. Instead, I think this is what Krebs really should have noticed.

Pencils tend to drift around. Speaking of tangents, the pencil name means “Mountain of Light” in Persian. An American operation could still have a Koh-i-Noor, but it is more likely that the photo would feature a mechanical/technical pencil at least, or a pen. Something like this:

That photo is actually taken in America. Look carefully at the clip and you will see “made in Japan”. The F is another way of saying HB, which in America would be a #2. Uh oh, who wants to guess where these pencils are actually from?

Anyway, the Krebs tangent reminds me of a joke about the cost and innovation of the American space program. The US agencies spent nearly a decade and millions of dollars to develop ink and a pen that could be used in zero gravity. The Russian response was to continue to use a pencil.