Researchers expose printer vulnerability, turn LaserJets into literal time bombs

[Jeffrey Walton <noloader () gmail com>]

http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/29/researchers-expose-printer-vulnerability-turns-inkjets-into-lit/

Your precious printer might seem innocuous but, in reality, it could
be a ticking time bomb just waiting for some hacker to trigger it. Oh,
and we mean that not just figuratively, but literally as well -- they
could actually be caused to burst into flames by some ne'er-do-well
half-way around the globe. Of course, the potential doesn't end at
remote arson, an attacker could easily gain access to a network or
steal documents, and hijacking the lowly device would require little
more than printing an infected file....

Most printers look for a firmware update every time they receive a job
but, for some reason, they rarely check the validity of an incoming
file. A fake upgrade could easily be attached to a file sent over the
internet, directly to a device -- no need to even trick anyone....
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