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HP Printers Prone to Hacking, Class Action Claims
By Matt O’Donnell
Hewlett-Packard printers are the target of yet another class action lawsuit, this time over allegations they have defective software that allows hackers to gain access to the network they’re on, steal information from it, and control the printers.
According to the latest Hewlett-Packard printer class action lawsuit, HP printers’ software (sometimes referred to as “firmware”) suffers from a design defect that renders them “highly vulnerable to attacks by hackers.”
The HP firmware defect “allows computer hackers to gain access to the network on which the HP printers are connected, steal sensitive information, and even flood the HP printers, themselves, with commands that are able to control the HP printers and even cause physical damage to the HP printers themselves,” the class action lawsuit states.
This is accomplished because HP printers can receive software updates from any source on the Internet, but the software does not have a mechanism to recognize dangerous sources of software updates or modifications and does not require the use of digital signatures in order to verify the authenticity of any software upgrades downloaded to the HP printers via the Internet.
“As a result of HP’s failure to require the use of digital signatures to authenticate software upgrades, hackers are able to reprogram the HP printers’ software with malicious software without detection,” the HP printer class action lawsuit states.
The lawsuit claims Hewlett-Packard knows about the design defect in its printers’ software, but has failed to disclose it to consumers.
The HP printer software defect class action lawsuit is brought on behalf of anyone who purchased an HP printer in the United States. It is seeking class certification, actual and statutory damages, restitution and punitive damages.
A copy of the HP Printer Software Hack Class Action Lawsuit can be read here.
The case is David Goldblatt v. Hewlett-Packard Company, Case No. 11-cv-05779, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California.
Updated December 6th, 2011
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5 thoughts onHP Printers Prone to Hacking, Class Action Claims
Pls add me
Pls add me
Please add my name. I currently own TWO HP printers & have bought them for 30 yrs. I was not aware of a highly possible hacking problem until reading your website & the post. Thx
As an artist/photographer I often rely on borderless wide format prints. HP official website shows the picture and description of a printer that performs such a print. In reality, this ad is a mis-representation for this device does leave two small margins. I have spend endless hours with HP representatives who did not admit or were just ignorant of the truth. Although I have official complaint, supervisor on my case is just playing games instead of resolving my case. I wasted much of expensive material trying to make the print this device just cannot do and received no compensation from the company.