If you asked most business owners to list their top cyber-risks, they’d name phishing e-mails, malware, maybe weak passwords. Few would point to the hardworking printer as a security threat—yet that’s exactly where hackers are quietly striking. In Cybernews’ “Printer Hack Experiment,” researchers hijacked 56 percent of 50,000 internet-facing printers—nearly 28,000 devices.(Cybernews)

Why Do Hackers Love Printers?

• Hidden data cache. Modern MFPs keep digital copies of every print, scan, or fax—gold for data thieves.
• Default admin logins. “Admin/admin” or “123456” still protect thousands of devices.
• Easy network foothold. Compromised printers can launch ransomware or pivot deeper into your network.
• Unpatched firmware. Few SMBs apply printer security updates.
• Discarded drives. Retired printers often leave full hard-drives in the dumpster.

It’s no surprise that 61 percent of organizations suffered a print-related data loss in 2023.(Quocirca)

Real-World Damage

1. Data breach fines. Stolen payroll or patient records can trigger HIPAA and PCI penalties.
2. Business downtime. Ransomware delivered via a printer stalls every workstation.
3. Brand erosion. Clients expect you to protect their data—losing a contract hurts more than the ransom.

Six Steps to Lock Down Your Printers Today

1. Change default credentials to a unique, complex passphrase.
2. Patch regularly. Schedule quarterly firmware checks—or let Entech schedule them.
3. Encrypt print jobs (Secure Print/PIN release) so docs can’t be intercepted.
4. Segment the printer network behind a firewall or VLAN.
5. Purge stored jobs and wipe drives before disposal.
6. Monitor logs. Flag spikes in overnight or off-network printing processing.

The Bigger Picture: Printers & Your IT Strategy

Printers aren’t “just office equipment.” They’re endpoints—like laptops or servers—that require the same layered defenses. We’re in IT together, so your security attention must include every device that touches company data.

Q&A

Q: Are office printers a real cybersecurity risk in 2025, or is that over-hyped?
A: Network printers handle sensitive data, store it on internal drives, and connect directly to Wi-Fi. Unpatched firmware and default passwords make them an easy target. Industry surveys show over half of organizations had a print-related breach in the past 12 months, so the risk is very real.

These best practices are a powerful start, but true protection comes from a holistic strategy that Makes IT work for you, not against you. That’s where Entech’s proactive team shines—aligning technology with your business goals and closing hidden gaps like unsecured printers.

Ready for peace of mind? Schedule a FREE Network Security Assessment with a real Entech expert (no chat-bots—just people). Let’s test your printers and every other endpoint before attackers do.

Book your assessment →

Cybernews hijacked 27,944 of 50,000 printers (56 %). → Cybernews article.(Cybernews)

1. 61 % of organizations experienced a print-related data loss (Quocirca, Print Security Landscape 2023).(Quocirca)
2. Backup source: HP-sponsored PDF of Quocirca report.(HP Support)

“We make IT work for you”—including every humble printer on your network.