Printers Get Hacked Too — Here’s How to Stop It Before It Happens

Printers Get Hacked Too — Here’s How to Stop It Before It Happens

when you think “cybersecurity,” your printer probably doesn’t even make the list.

You’ve got firewalls. Antivirus. Employee training.
You update your laptops. You lock your Wi-Fi.
You even changed your admin passwords (…eventually).

But that quiet machine humming in the corner?
The one that prints invoices, contracts, and employee pay stubs?

Yeah. That one.

It’s not just a printer anymore.
It’s a computer. With memory. With network access. With stored files.
And — worst of all — with zero protection in most offices.

Hackers aren’t knocking on your front door.
They’re slipping in through the back — via your printer.

And if you’re still thinking, “It’s just a printer, what’s the worst that could happen?” —
…you’re exactly who they’re targeting.

⚠️ What’s Actually Stored in Your Printer? (Spoiler: Everything)

Modern printers aren’t dumb machines.
They’re smart, connected, data-hungry devices — and they remember everything:

• Copies of every document you’ve printed, scanned, or faxed
• Login credentials (yes, really)
• Financial records, tax files, bank details
• Employee IDs, contracts, personal info
• Network passwords and device connections

All it takes is one unsecured printer on your network — and a hacker can:

→ Steal sensitive documents
→ Jump to other devices on your network
→ Launch ransomware attacks
→ Spy on print jobs in real time
→ Even use your printer to mine cryptocurrency (yes, that’s a thing)

Still think it’s “just a printer”?

🔐 8 No-BS Ways to Secure Your Printer (Starting Today)

You don’t need a tech degree. You don’t need expensive tools.
Just a little awareness — and these 8 simple fixes.

1. 🚫 Ditch the Default Password (Seriously — Do It Now)

That “admin / 123456” combo? It’s basically rolling out a red carpet for hackers.

👉 Go into your printer’s settings (usually via its web interface) and set a strong, unique password.
Bonus: Enable two-factor authentication if your printer supports it.

2. 📄 Empty the Tray — And Shred What’s Left

Sounds low-tech? It is. And it works.

Leftover printouts in the tray? Confidential client files? Employee records?

👉 Make it a habit: Clear the output tray after every job.
👉 Better yet — get an office shredder and destroy anything sensitive.
Physical security still matters.

3. 🔄 Update Firmware Like You Update Your Phone

Printer manufacturers release security patches too.
But unlike your iPhone, your printer won’t bug you to install them.

👉 Check for firmware updates every 3 months.
👉 Enable auto-updates if available.
👉 Bonus: Look for printers with built-in security (like HP’s SureStart — it reboots and self-heals if tampered with).

4. 🌐 Isolate Your Printer on Its Own Network

Why let your printer talk to everything?

👉 Put it on a separate VLAN or guest network — so if it gets hacked, the damage stops there.
👉 Disable remote printing unless absolutely necessary.
👉 If you must allow remote access, whitelist only trusted IPs.

5. 🛡️ Turn On Encryption — For Everything

Print jobs traveling across the network? Unencrypted?
That’s like sending your bank password via postcard.

👉 Enable TLS/SSL encryption for print jobs.
👉 Encrypt the printer’s internal hard drive (most modern printers support this).
👉 Set documents to auto-delete from memory after printing.

6. 🔥 Don’t Skip the Firewall

Yes, your printer needs one too.

👉 Make sure your office firewall blocks unauthorized access to printer ports.
👉 Disable unused services like FTP, Telnet, or remote admin panels.
👉 Use MAC address filtering to allow only known devices to communicate with it.

—

7. 🚫 Disable What You Don’t Use

Unused features = unnecessary risks.

👉 Turn off:

• Cloud printing (unless essential)
• Remote web interface
• USB auto-run
• Unused protocols (SNMP, SMB, etc.)

Less functionality = smaller attack surface.

8. 👥 Train Your Team — Because Printers Don’t Hack Themselves

Your employees are your first — and last — line of defense.

👉 Teach them:

• Not to print sensitive docs unless necessary
• To collect printouts immediately
• To avoid printing from unsecured devices
• To spot phishing emails that target printer settings
• To report strange printer behavior (slowdowns, weird error messages, unknown print jobs)

Security only works when everyone’s on board.

💡 Bottom Line: Your Printer Is Part of Your Security Stack — Treat It Like One

You wouldn’t leave your server room unlocked.
You wouldn’t let strangers plug into your network.
So why leave your printer wide open?

It’s not about paranoia.
It’s about responsibility.

One weak link — even a “dumb” printer — can bring down your entire operation.