Another Computer Security Problem to Worry About

[JohnH]

Has anyone heard of this?

http://redtape.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/29/9076395-exclusive-millions-of-printers-open-to-devastating-hack-attack-researchers-say

[taxea]

Has anyone heard of this?

http://redtape.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2...esearchers-say

Easy way to prevent this is not to wifi your home networking system. Don't network your conmputers, printers, etd through the internet .

[Gary2]

Easy way to prevent this is not to wifi your home networking system. Don't network your conmputers, printers, etd through the internet .

I hope the term "wifi" isn't being diluted to refer to all networking. Obviously, it doesn't matter whether you use wifi or hardwire.

But the problem isn't specific to networking. While making a printer available on the net will make it more vulnerable, in theory (according to the article) it could just as easily be infected by printing a malicious file off a DVD or USB drive - though without a network, there's a limit to how much damage could result.

Dropping off the internet isn't a possibility for most people. Instead, make sure your hardware firewall (embeded in most routers) is configured properly, and that the printer itself is configured to limit from where it will accept jobs. The software firewall in your computer won't protect the printer from external attacks if the printer hangs off the net directly. Register your printer with the manufacturer, and pay attention to manufacturer notices.