Tuesday Tip: Keeping Your Printer Safe at Home from Hackers

As the workplace continues to change in these new times, employees are still getting the opportunity to work from home more frequently. Some employees still require a printer to get the job done. As cyber security continues to be a mainstream topic, have you ever thought about keeping your printer safe as well? It is not just your computer that needs to be secure from hackers, it is your printer too. Here are some basic security steps to follow:

• Update your firmware:
  • If you are connected to the internet, you want to ensure you are doing regular updates to stay secure. These patches ensure you have the latest software to prevent you from getting any new bugs and vulnerabilities. If you are unsure how to do this, the user manual will have instructions, the printer display or open up the printer software to update.
• Limit access:
  • Windows makes printer access optional, so only allowed trusted individuals. If you do not want someone to have access, set up a guest account that will not allow printer access.
  • To do this, open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners. Choose your printer, then hit Manage. Choose Printer properties, then Security. From there, you can click each user to establish permissions. Click Deny to disallow access. You can also allow a user to print but not manage the printer.
• Don’t put it on the network:
  • If you connect your printer to your home network, printing becomes easier, however security can be compromised as well by cybercriminals. Printers are not patched and updated as frequently as other devices, which can cause a crack in security. Best advice is to connect your printer directly to one computer through a USB cord.
• Set a Password:
  • Your printer should have at least one password. Check the owner’s manual to see what can be set.
• Secure Networked Printers:
  • If you are putting your printer on your home network, you do need to keep it safe from the hackers.
    • Ensure your router is getting regular updates. These are normally automatic for most, but if not, you will need to check for them every three months on your router admin page.
    • Make sure your router has the strongest encryption. If you have to enter a password, you are already set up but you still might not be on the most secure encryption as some are outdated. To ensure you are on the strongest, go to the router’s admin menu and ensure you have selected WPA3.
    • Built-In Firewalls are part of your router, however are not all labeled the same. You are able to adjust these for incoming and outgoing settings, however default is normally sufficient.
    • Make sure you disable remote access settings.

Hope these tips help and stay safe!