Network-connected copiers could be vulnerable to security leaks if incorrectly set up, OEMs warn.
The Japan Times reported that the Japanese government’s National Information Security Center is planning to examine Canon and Ricoh network-connected copiers that have scanning and faxing capabilities and are used by all government offices due to potential threats to security.
According to Canon and Ricoh, documents stored in the devices could easily be accessed by unauthorised third parties over the internet should users fail to set identifications and passwords, with an information security expert reportedly explaining that a website that can search for vulnerable machines is able to pinpoint copiers and printers at “dozens of locations around the world”, notifying hackers of machines they could potentially breach.
The Recycler recently reported on a scanning error present in Xerox’s ConnectKey printers as well as its WorkCentre 75 and 57 ranges and the ColorQube 93 line, with the scanners found to incorrectly copy some numbers on certain settings; and later reported that the OEM has released a software patch to fix the issue.