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Report: Printers catching fire due to hacked firmware!! on Thu Dec 01, 2011 11:18 am
DragonMaster Jay
Site Owner
After a story earlier this week from MSNBC, it appears that security researchers from Columbia University have tested and found a vulnerability in HP printers.
Apparently, this issue has to do with the ability to do a remote update of the printer's firmware. If a hacker were to attempt to gain access to the printer to do a remote update, he/she could launch malware on the victim printer. If malware is launched, it could do unforeseeable damage. One example was in the Columbia University studies to where a hacker could make the printer charge the toner so much as to fuse itself to the paper while hot, making it catch fire!
Some researchers are on fire about the fact that HP doesn't license/certify its own firmware, to declare if HP is the original owner or if the firmware is a fraud.
HP has made attempts to calm the public, in which case they said the vulnerability is not that serious, and a fix for it should be out in the next firmware upgrade!
Apparently, this issue has to do with the ability to do a remote update of the printer's firmware. If a hacker were to attempt to gain access to the printer to do a remote update, he/she could launch malware on the victim printer. If malware is launched, it could do unforeseeable damage. One example was in the Columbia University studies to where a hacker could make the printer charge the toner so much as to fuse itself to the paper while hot, making it catch fire!
Some researchers are on fire about the fact that HP doesn't license/certify its own firmware, to declare if HP is the original owner or if the firmware is a fraud.
HP has made attempts to calm the public, in which case they said the vulnerability is not that serious, and a fix for it should be out in the next firmware upgrade!
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DragonMaster Jay
Administrative Director SecuraGeek Association
Advanced Malware Analysts Group Owner
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