My understanding is various hardware parts leave similar tracking traces even with a fresh operating system.
I know most printers leave micro data that can be used to track anything printed back to a given printer. I was on a grand jury when this was exposed in detail. Same with copiers.
So if you leave a ransom note, go the newspaper word cut route and wear two sets of gloves, a hair net, and a mask.
And use somebody else’s dog to lick the envelope... :-)
I’m not much for kidnapping but I will tell you my printer has never been connected to the internet or to any device that is connected.
I wasn’t even in my teens when I learned that printers are evil.
The less they know, the better!