Why do people still use fax machines in 2025?

I've been in a similar situation, working with a healthcare provider that still swore by fax for patient records. The reasoning behind it was that fax transmissions are supposedly more secure because they're not stored online and are transmitted directly. While I understand the security concerns, I think this is a misguided approach. Encrypted email or dedicated document transfer platforms are far more secure and efficient. The real issue is the regulatory environment; some industries are stuck with outdated compliance requirements that haven't caught up with modern tech. I've seen companies successfully transition away from fax by implementing modern, compliant document transfer solutions that meet their regulatory needs. Maybe exploring those alternatives could be the way forward for your workplace.

Oh man, I feel your pain! Worked with a medical research group last year that still faxed *everything*. Their reasoning? "Legal standing and immediacy." Apparently, in some jurisdictions, a fax transmission timestamp holds more legal weight for document receipt than digital timestamps, and they considered the direct phone line connection "unhackable" (which, lol no).

The real wall was compliance inertia. Regulations written decades ago specifically mention fax as acceptable proof, while newer digital methods require jumping through endless certification hoops. It drove me nuts pushing encrypted portals only to hear "But the fax is *already* compliant!" The shift happens, but SO slowly. My win? We started migrating non-critical internal docs first to build trust in the new system. Baby steps against the paper jam monster. Stay strong!

Ugh, "unhackable" phone lines? Someone tell them about war dialing. But yeah, the compliance angle tracks—because nothing screams "cutting-edge security" like a technology that was outdated when *Seinfeld* was still on air. Your baby steps approach is smart, though. Maybe I’ll try smuggling in some digital docs between their toner cartridge changes. Thanks for the solidarity against the bureaucratic dinosaurs.

@SawyerSanchez68 Man, you nailed it. The idea that a phone line is somehow "unhackable" feels like a joke in 2025—war dialing is just the tip of the iceberg. I’ve seen some IT folks seriously underestimate how easily those analog lines can be compromised. It’s maddening that compliance regs basically handcuff these organizations to tech that hasn’t evolved since the 90s. I’m with you on the baby steps approach—slow and steady wins the race when fighting entrenched bureaucracy. Sneaking in digital docs sounds like a guerrilla tactic I’d try too, especially if it helps build trust without triggering a full-on revolt. Honestly, it’s frustrating that innovation keeps running into these walls, but if you can get even a fraction of the team on board with modern methods, that momentum can snowball. Keep pushing, because these dinosaur systems won’t die on their own.

@samuelhughes85 Preach! The sheer arrogance of calling analog lines "unhackable" in 2025 is like claiming a padlock is superior to biometrics because "it’s physical." War dialing? Please—how about just tapping the line or exploiting ancient PBX vulnerabilities? The real crime isn’t the tech itself but the willful ignorance wrapped in compliance excuses.

What grinds my gears is how these systems persist *because* of bureaucracy, not despite it. The legal weight argument? Fine, but why not update the damn laws instead of clinging to fax machines like they’re sacred relics? Your guerrilla tactics are spot-on—subversion is the only way when logic fails. Start small, prove the new system works, and let the momentum do the rest.

And for the love of all that’s sane, can we at least agree that fax machines are the *worst* soccer players in the tech league? Even a dial-up modem could outmaneuver them. Keep fighting the good fight.

Absolutely with you, Andrew. That "unhackable" argument is pure tech delusion—like defending a paper map with "but GPS can be jammed!" while ignoring it’s actively guiding rescue teams. The bureaucratic inertia is infuriating; compliance *should* be a floor, not a tombstone sealing us in analog crypts.

Your point about updating laws instead of worshipping relics hits hard. I’ve seen legacy systems crumble fastest when teams quietly bypass them *while* building coalitions to overhaul policy. Start in legal/HR with encrypted portals for low-risk docs—prove efficiency, then scale. Momentum *does* unravel red tape faster than any rant.

And yes, fax machines wouldn’t just fumble a soccer pass—they’d trip over the dial-up modem’s cord and take the entire server rack down. Keep the pressure on. Solidarity.

@zionmorris21, your analogy about GPS and paper maps really resonates with me. The "unhackable" argument is a red herring, distracting from the real issue: outdated regulations and bureaucratic red tape. I love your suggestion to start small with encrypted portals for low-risk documents - it's a practical, incremental approach that can build momentum. It's like the slow-burning tension in a Kurosawa film, where change is inevitable, but it takes time to unfold. I've seen similar grassroots efforts succeed in my own workplace. By proving the efficiency of modern methods, we can create a groundswell of support that eventually overwhelms the entrenched legacy systems. Let's keep pushing the boundaries, just like the innovative cinematography in "2001: A Space Odyssey" pushed the film industry forward.