Printer Security

[Doombar]

Just bought 2 x 3632 printers for my twin daughters to take to Uni and want to install some security on them to stop their entire block using it as a local printer..

read the below advice but when i block all users except the owner, it also blocked me...

do you know the settings i should use please???

 thanks, a desperate dad...

 
Re: How do I secure my printer so that I prevent my neighbors from using my wireless printer to prin
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‎12-21-2012 12:26 PM
Actually, that is quite possible. You just have to adjust the security settings on the printer to do that. Just to to Devices and Printers, right click on the unit, go to Printer Properties and under the "Security" tab you can restrict users on the same network. 
This shold enable you to control your printer with a little more discretion
AlwaysNeon – 28/11/12

Re: How do I secure my printer so that I prevent my neighbors from using my wireless printer to prin
[ Edited ]
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‎12-21-2012 01:52 PM - edited ‎12-21-2012 01:53 PM
Oh wow, totally forgot about that. That may work for him, sorry. Just not used to setting security on printers. Typically it is set to everyone, but you can adjust it to just your PC it looks like
Sabretooth – 21/12/12

[Donal_M]

Hi,

You can use the wireless direct funtion of your printer by turining on the wireless button on the front of the printer. This allows the printer generate it's own wifi singal that you can connect to through any wireless device. To find the wireless password, simply hold down the wireless direct button for more than 3 secs and it will print the password on plain paper (make sure paper is loaded).

This is a password protected wifi connection between the printer and devices conected to it so only those with the password can print to it.

[Doombar]

Many thanks for your incredibly fast response however, the reason i asked specifically about software security settings is because i want to sign them up for HP Instant Ink so need the printer connected to the internet....

if they connect via wireless direct, can i still run the Instant Ink option??

thanks...

[Donal_M · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Yes, you'll still be able to use instant ink as long as you connect the printer to the internet every few days in order to maintain semi regular contact with the instant ink servers.

While connected via wifi direct,  the printer has no internet connectivity. 

[BlueLu]

I am seeing my printer as an unsecured network on the list of available networks.  I set a printer password; what else can I do so it doesn't become a zombie?  (I connect to it thru a secure router -- at least, I hope it's still secure even tho it's communicating with a non-secured printer)

[Donal_M]

Hi,

It sounds like you are connected via wifi direct which would mean you're not going through a router though it should be secure as you have set a password - not sure what you mean about it being a Zombie?

[BlueLu]

Let me provide more details.

My printer is an M277 Color Laserjet.  It is set up to connect automatically with my router, which is secured.  My computer is also set up to connect automatically with my router.

When I click on the icon on my computer to let me see available networks, my router comes up as "connected" and as "secured."

However, if the printer is turned on, its name also comes up as an available connection.  It shows it as "open" (i.e., not secured).  If I  click on it, a message comes up warning that other people might be able to see information I send over that connection.  That is true even though I have set a password for the printer, using its little touchscreen.  It invites me to connect, but I decline.

Those of us who have been paying attention to recent tech news are aware that hackers have been able to use non-secured internet-connected devices (even such non-obvious targets as "smart" coffeemakers, refrigerators, etc.) to launch DDoS attacks.  The slang term for such a device is a "zombie."

So I have 2 concerns:

1.  When I tell my printer to print, communicating with it through my secure router, does its open non-secured connection allow that information to be accessed, or allow any sort of back door hack into the data on my computer?

2.  Is my printer a potential target for use as a zombie?

Bottom line, it says it's an open connection.  I'd like to change that to a secured connection.  Setting a password didn't do it.  What else is there that HP can offer?  (I note that my wireless Brother printer does NOT come up as an available connection at all, so I gather that it is NOT necessary to have a printer make itself an available Internet connection in order to use it wirelessly -- at least, if the manufacturer's software is set up to avoid this problem.)

Having sat and waited for a "chat" with HP Support for over half an hour, I gave up and hoped to find the answer on the forum.

[Donal_M]

Hi,

If you use the printer in wireless direct mode, this should be secure as there is no external connection to the internet from wither your printer or mobile device. The connection is directly between your mobile device and the printer with no connection to your router.

For the standard connection setup  between your printer and router, I would expect that this should be secure as your home network is password protected.  

[BlueLu]

I think I still haven't made the situation clear.  Thanks for trying.

[partsgirl95]

I was having the same issue with my 4630 series AIO-Shows "open" in the list of available networks.  Didn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy at all. I posted a question about it yesterday, patiently waiting for a reply...ANY reply.

I thought for the time being, as a temporary alternative, I'd switch over to the "Wireless Direct" option. IT WORKED!!!

The list of available networks shows that it is secured!!! HORAH!! Mission accomplished!!!  I hope you try this option and it works for you as it did for me!!!