On November 29th, Deborah Netburn reported for the LA Times on claims that hackers can set fire to your printer.  The article cited an MSNBC article, which in turn had cited a Columbia University study that found HP printers "are completely open and available to be exploited" and could allow hackers to steal personal information, attack secure networks, or set the office on fire.  This report promoted HP to issue the following statement:  "Today there has been sensational and inaccurate reporting regarding a potential security vulnerability with some HP LaserJet printers … Speculation regarding potential for devices to catch fire due to a firmware change is false."  HP conceded the other security vulnerabilities. 

For what it's worth, Richard Clarke called this vulnerability back in 2010.  Pg. 71 of Cyber War: The Next Threat to National Security and What to Do About It talks about a copier catching fire due to a hacking attack.  I'm not too worried…my printer/copier already self-destructs without the help of a hacker.

On November 29th, Deborah Netburn reported for the LA Times on claims that hackers can set fire to your printer.  The article cited an MSNBC article, which in turn had cited a Columbia University study that found HP printers "are completely open and available to be exploited" and could allow hackers to steal personal information, attack secure networks, or set the office on fire.  This report promoted HP to issue the following statement:  "Today there has been sensational and inaccurate reporting regarding a potential security vulnerability with some HP LaserJet printers … Speculation regarding potential for devices to catch fire due to a firmware change is false."  HP conceded the other security vulnerabilities. 

For what it's worth, Richard Clarke called this vulnerability back in 2010.  Pg. 71 of Cyber War: The Next Threat to National Security and What to Do About It talks about a copier catching fire due to a hacking attack.  I'm not too worried…my printer/copier already self-destructs without the help of a hacker.