The convenience of many MFPs’ wireless access is offset by “susceptibility to viruses and hacking by outside forces”.
Notebook Review writer Vince Font has written an article highlighting the need for printer users to consider the security measures they have in place. He said that because printers are often viewed as “external components that perform a single function, they’re all too often left out of the wireless security loop – leaving a gaping hole in an otherwise tightly secured information network”.
The most significant risk is “allowing unauthorised individuals to access documents that have either already been printed, or documents that are being sent through a wireless connection to be printed”. If the hacked documents contain information such as bank account details or Social Security ID, the damage is all the more “severe”.
Denial-of-service attacks can also disable a legitimate user from accessing their account. Hackers even “jam up printers with forged print jobs” to create bottlenecks and stall productivity.
Turning to the question of how to tighten printer security, Font advises to ensure that “wireless printers aren’t providing an avenue for hackers”. Internal Wi-Fi connections with WPA2 encryption are a “critical step” to take, while “enabling manufacturer security patches to download to printers is another”.
Another trick is to set wireless printers “that store data after a print job […] to erase that data just as soon as it’s no longer needed”. Should a user prefer for the data to be held for longer, it ought to be encrypted. Furthermore, the article said that “most effective method” of preventing information from getting into the wrong hands is to disable its internal memory and in so doing, “prevent it from storing data”. The reader is also urged to consider replacing older printers with newer models to ensure they have the latest security features.
It concludes: “Even the most tightly controlled and guarded information network can be compromised. Adding printer security to the mix is just another method of preventing outsiders from gaining access to your personal or business information.
“Whether you’re in the market for a wireless printer or are simply seeking ways to tighten down the security in your existing array, pay attention to the included security features and commit to employing them to your benefit.”