Prevent hackers from exploiting your business 打印机 with these tips

Can business 打印机 get hacked? 简短的回答是肯定的. Anything that connects to your business network can be exploited by malicious actors on the internet, even innocuous machines like your 打印机. These can be exploited to steal data and/or create entry points into your system to launch larger attacks. So make sure you follow these tips to protect your work printer environment.

What makes business 打印机 vulnerable to cyberattacks?

When assessing network 安全 threats, companies primarily focus on servers and computers not only because these are the most exposed to external threats, but also because they get the bulk of cyberattacks. Printers are often at the bottom of the list since they are not prime targets. 更重要的是, their functions seem to be internal at first glance, as they don’t interact with external systems.

But it’s exactly because of their primary functions, 即打印和扫描, that make print devices perfect cybercriminal targets. 业务es run important documents such as tax forms, 员工信息, 医疗记录, and financial statements through print devices — information that hackers would definitely love to get their hands on.

他们可以很容易地做到.

Network 打印机 store previous print jobs in their hard drive, sometimes including those that have been canceled. If anyone accesses the printer — even remotely — they may be able to see those documents by 黑客 into the printer using a specialized tool.

Files can also be intercepted during wireless transmission, as modern 打印机 can now be connected to the web. Not only can hackers exploit 打印机’ open network ports to view data, but they can also take over vulnerable 打印机 and transmit their own data through these machines.

Lastly, hackers can exploit vulnerable 打印机 to bypass your 网络安全 system. Once they find a way in through your 打印机, crooks can then launch broader cyberattacks from within your network, which can be difficult to contain.

What can you do to protect your business 打印机?

业务 打印机 should not be disregarded when planning a 网络安全 strategy. Keep your print devices secure by following these best practices:

1. Monitor your network surreptitiously and always promptly install printer software updates and patches. Printer manufacturers often release software support or updates, so always be on the lookout for those.
2. Change the default password and administrator login credentials of 打印机 with web management capabilities.
3. Allow only company-owned devices to connect to your 打印机.
4. Always connect to your 打印机 using secure connections. Conversely, avoid accessing your 打印机 through a public internet connection.
5. Restrict printer access by using a firewall.
6. If your wireless printer has a feature that requires users to enter a PIN before they can print documents, enable it to prevent unauthorized access.
7. If you don’t use your printer for fax and email, isolate your printer from your main company network and disable out-of-network printing.
8. If you handle classified data, do not connect your printer to any network. Instead, connect it directly to your computer using data cables or print from a thumb drive.
9. Secure your printouts by enabling manual feed. This setting requires a user to manually input paper (or any material to be printed on), reducing the risks of the printed document getting stolen or being left in the printing area.

Another way to secure your 打印机 is by partnering with an IT company that can take care of your printer-related worries. From thwarting attacks to reducing management costs to keeping your printer at optimal functionality, 我们的专家可以提供帮助.

Are you interested in learning more about 网络安全? Call us today and discover how our wide array of tech services can safeguard your business.