Printer security on my network

[fltpro]

I have a wireless home network with 3 computers and one HP Laserjet printer connected.  3 days ago while NOTHING was connected to my network, my HP Laserjet printer fired up by itself and printed out a single page which said: "Contratulations! Your printer is now web-connected and has its own email address......"

I never gave HP permission to print remotely access my network, nor to print something or setup a remote account or give me a "claim code."

This action is a breach of my network security.  I had NO OTHER DEVICES turned on nor connected to the net when this happened.  It was HP directly breaching my network and accessing my printer without my permission!

This tells me that HP breached the security of my wireless network without my permission.  How do I reverse this onerous breach and prevent it from ever happening again?  I will wait for an answer before I go national on security web sites about this significant breach.

- Barry 

[Max3Aj]

@fltpro, Hello and welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for posting your question. I'm here to help you get things back on track.

I understand how alarming it must have felt to see your HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M281cdw print a page unexpectedly, especially when no devices were actively connected to your network.

Let me clarify what likely happened and guide you through steps to secure your printer and network.

What Triggered the Page?

The page you received “Congratulations! Your printer is now web-connected…” is automatically printed when HP Web Services (also known as ePrint or HP Connected) is enabled on your printer. This service allows cloud-based printing and assigns your printer an email address for remote printing.

This feature can be activated:

• Manually via the printer’s control panel.
• Automatically during setup if the printer detects an active internet connection and firmware supports auto-enabling.
• Via HP Smart app or HP software installed on any device previously connected to the printer.

It’s important to note: HP does not access your network or printer without permission. The printer itself initiates this connection once it detects internet access and the feature is enabled.
 

How to Disable HP Web Services and Secure Your Printer

To prevent any future remote printing or cloud access:

Step 1: Turn Off Web Services

1. On the printer’s control panel, tap the HP ePrint icon or go to Setup > Web Services Setup.
2. Select Remove Web Services or Disable Web Services.
3. Confirm the action. This will deactivate the printer’s email address and cloud printing features.

Step 2: Reset Network Settings (Optional but Recommended)

To ensure no residual settings remain:

1. Go to Setup > Network Setup > Restore Network Settings.
2. Reconnect the printer manually to your Wi-Fi if needed.

Step 3: Secure Your Wireless Network

• Ensure your Wi-Fi uses WPA2 or WPA3 encryption.
• Change your Wi-Fi password if you suspect unauthorized access.
• Disable WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) on your router to prevent automatic device connections.

Step 4: Update Printer Firmware

Sometimes firmware updates enable new features. You can disable auto-updates if preferred:

• Go to Setup > Printer Maintenance > Update Firmware > Check Automatically and set it to Off.

Update the firmware on an HP printer | HP® Support

Final Notes

This behavior is not a breach by HP but a result of the printer’s built-in features designed to enhance usability. However, you have full control over these features and can disable them at any time.

I hope the information shared has been useful and resolves your concern.

Wishing you a smooth and hassle-free experience ahead!

If this solution helped, please click “Accepted Solution” so others can benefit too. Don’t forget to hit the “Yes” button if you found this helpful!

Warm regards,

Max3Aj

HP Support