Why Your Office Printer Might Be a Silent Cyber Assassin

As we navigate the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity, we tend to focus on securing our networks and data through firewalls, antivirus software, and encryption. However, there's a lesser-known vulnerability that we often overlook - the office printer. This seemingly harmless device can pose a significant threat to your organisation's security. That's why managed print solutions (MPS) are crucial in protecting your organisation from this silent cyber assassin. In this article, we'll dive into the importance of managed print and how it can help safeguard your organisation against this underestimated threat.

The Unassuming Printer: A Hacker's Backdoor

Imagine a typical day at the office—you're printing out a routine report on the office printer. What could be more innocent than the office printer? But behind the paper trays lies a vulnerability that hackers are all too eager to exploit. Printers, like any network-connected device, can possess vulnerabilities ranging from unpatched firmware to weak passwords and outdated security protocols. That makes them attractive and easy targets for cybercriminals seeking to access your confidential data.

The Silent Intruder

Consider this scenario: A hacker exploits a printer vulnerability to infiltrate your network, gaining access to sensitive documents, email addresses, and even login credentials. The printer, seemingly harmless as it sits silently in a corner, unwittingly becomes the gateway to your organisation's most sensitive data.

Print Jobs on the Loose

Have you ever sent a document to the office printer only to forget to retrieve it? Those forgotten pages could contain sensitive information that any unauthorised person might pick up and walk out the door with.

The Rogue Print Server

Print servers, responsible for managing print jobs across an organisation, become potential points of vulnerability if intercepted by bad actors. Your confidential data could be left exposed, awaiting exploitation.

Real-World Printer Shenanigans

• In March this year, Anycubic, a popular brand of 3D printers, suffered a worldwide hack. The hacker was able to exploit a critical security flaw in the devices and added a file that warned users of the vulnerability that could allow attackers to take control of their printers. The hacker urged the users to disconnect their printers from the internet and also called upon Anycubic to open-source their 3D printers. This message was downloaded by almost three million devices.
• A teenager from the UK managed to hack approximately 150,000 internet-connected printers across the world. After gaining control of these devices, the schoolboy, calling himself ‘Stackoverflowin’, began printing ASCII art and messages to notify their owners that their machines were now "part of a flaming botnet."
• CyberNews?conducted an experiment where they hijacked close to 28,000 unsecured printers worldwide and forced them to print out a guide on printer security.?This was done to raise awareness about printer security issues.

Enter Managed Print Solutions (MPS)

Managed print solutions, along with other cybersecurity precautions, can help businesses navigate an increasingly dangerous digital landscape, and help to mitigate the risks posed by office printers.

Security Patch Patrol

MPS providers like Modern Networks diligently monitor printer fleets, ensuring that security patches are promptly applied to mitigate vulnerabilities and enhance overall network security.

Secret Handshakes at the Printer

Secure print release systems can stop strangers from walking off with your confidential documents as they sit unattended in the printer tray. These systems require authentication by swipe card or pin code before they print a document, reducing the risk of accidental data leaks.

Office Printer Encryption Magic

Managed print solutions secure data by encrypting it during transmission between printers and servers. This encryption makes the data unreadable to unauthorized parties, effectively preventing hacking attempts.

Role-Based Access Control

Role-based access control restricts printer functionality to authorised personnel only. This approach helps mitigate the risk of unauthorised data access or manipulation.

In Summary

It's important to keep in mind that even the most ordinary devices, such as the humble office printer, can pose a major threat to your organisation's security if not properly protected. Using managed print solutions and robust security measures can enhance your defences against potential cyberattacks. It's easy to forget, but your office printer is more than just a combination of plastic, ink, and paper; it can also serve as a digital backdoor to your company's network. Therefore, it is crucial to take the necessary steps to protect your office printers from attack.

To learn more about the benefits of managed print such as reduced waste, lower energy consumption and cost savings? Get in touch today.