this post was submitted on 24 Jan 2024
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188
HP CEO evokes James Bond-style hack via ink cartridges - ""Our long-term objective is to make printing a subscription."" (arstechnica.com)
submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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HP CEO evokes James Bond-style hack via ink cartridges - ""Our long-term objective is to make printing a subscription.""::"Our long-term objective is to make printing a subscription."

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

Even old HP printers aren’t safe. I have a two-generations-back HP Color LaserJet I got from a tech recycler for $300. (MFP M477fdw) It can be optionally configured to enforce or not enforce genuine toner. I can get a four-pack of CYMK high-capacity cartridges for $70-80 on Amazon. Prints wonderfully, toner is cheap, so I’m in the clear, right? Safe from this BS?

Turns out that wear items (intermediate transfer belt, for example) within the printer have chips with versioned firmware. And the printer will throw error codes if different firmware versions within the printer aren’t mutually compatible.

I’m sure the moment they believe they can get away with it, replacement ITB assemblies, fixers, document scanners, etc will include a shrink wrap license and firmware that requires you to update everything else to match - and the matching firmware will make official toner no longer optional.

Definitely Fuck HP. The moment any of that comes to pass and disables my own printer I’m re-recycling this printer and buying another brand immediately.