Securing network printers - these tips will help

With a network printer, everyone on the same network usually has access to the device. Because of this, and because of the printer's connection to the WLAN router, it is important to properly secure the device. We explain the necessary measures.

These measures will help you secure your network printer

If you have shared your printer with multiple people on a network, it is more vulnerable to hacking and viruses. To prevent this, it is necessary to properly secure the network printer. To ensure that no unauthorized person connects to the network printer, you should therefore be sure to set an access password for the device.

1. If your printer has a corresponding function, you can adjust its settings so that printouts are only possible after entering a PIN.
2. If your printer's data is temporarily stored on an internal hard drive, for example in the case of business printers, it is also important to properly encrypt the hard drive for security.
3. In addition, it is necessary to secure not only the network printer itself, but also the network to which it is connected. A secure WLAN password and regular router updates are particularly important here.

How to perform updates for the network printer

In addition, it is necessary to regularly check for updates for your network printer to close security gaps. Depending on what model of printer you use, updating the firmware is possible either directly on the device or through a program on the computer. For well-known printer manufacturers such as HP, Canon, Epson or Lexmark, firmware updates are usually available for you to download directly from the support pages and can then be used to update the printer via the PC.