Remanufactured v Compatible Ink Cartridges

AndyPix

^^ For home use "dumb" printers the risk is negligable ..


But networked printers not so much - for example the printer will contain an address book with network paths and will also have access to network shares ..
Some even store credentials in plain text believe it or not !!


Can be a good starting point to an attack, as it is a "trusted" network device and is usually a lot easier to "own" than a computer

arciere

Also the cheapest inkjet consumer printers have WiFi or network capabilities. Even if it is not visible on the Internet (meaning that you have port-forwarding or other ways to directly access it from the web), it still communicates on the web (automatic firmware updates, 'cloud' printing, etc.). That makes it vulnerable.
Of course if you use a USB printer the risks are remote, but as soon as you start using network connectivity, the scenario changes.
This is just an example of what can happen:
https://www.csoonline.com/article/3295012/security/hundreds-of-hp-inkjet-printer-models-vulnerable-to-critical-remote-code-execution-flaws.html

I'm not saying that all the printers are at risk, only that even the cheapest printer on the market could be vulnerable to attacks, so it's a risk worth considering if a firmware update covers that eventuality.

arciere

DoaM wrote: »

Such as?

A printer isn't (usually) given unfettered Internet access; but even so, unless a hacker knew the name/IP address/whatever of the printer I can't see how a printer would be a target vector into someone's network.

That's direct access. What firmware updates cover (security-wise) is non-scripted access or a zero-day exploit.

arciere

AndyPix wrote: »

Some even store credentials in plain text believe it or not !!

That's also the case with some HP LaserJet MFP printers (with a starting price of over £1,000 , so not home-use, even more worrying), the old firmware stored the password for the SMTP authentication in plain text. Access to the web interface was HTTP.

Robisere

Not going into the possibly speculative issues regarding network access, just trying to answer the OP's original question.


How good do you want your printouts, how much photo printing do you do? If absolute clarity and finish of prints is what you want, use genuine HP cartridges. If that is not important, use compatibles, but make them Remanufactured. I have had a HP Photosmart C5380 for almost 10 years, a 5-cart printer in which I have never used anything but genuine HP Vivera inks. I have photos from the first year of use, some in direct sunshine, with no fade. However, it is my interest in making my own photos that kept me using Genuine cart's. Unfortunately the 5380 is getting cranky now: very slight banding is visible on Test Pages, and no amount of Head Cleaning and Diagnostics is delaying the inevitable. I have chosen to go for a new Canon, as HP no longer make a good 5-cart photo printer.


So I repeat: if you don't want absolutely top finish from your prints, use Remaufactured compat's.