When people think about cybersecurity, they worry about laptops. Phones. Wi-Fi routers. Maybe smart speakers.
Almost nobody worries about their printer.
Which is exactly why printers have become one of the most overlooked security risks in modern homes.
If that sounds dramatic, consider this:
Printers are network-connected computers with storage, outdated firmware, unsecured ports, default credentials, and—often—zero user oversight.
In security terms, that’s a dream target.
Let’s break down why.
1. Most printers ship with shockingly bad security defaults
Consumer printers commonly arrive with:
- default admin passwords
- unsecured web interfaces
- open network ports
- Wi-Fi Direct enabled by default
- remote management features active from day one
And unlike routers or phones, printers don’t force setup screens that warn you to change passwords or disable features.
They assume you’ll secure them. Consumers assume the manufacturer did.
Result: Nobody secures them at all.
2. Printers store data. Very few people realize this
Your printer may save:
- recent print jobs
- cached documents
- scanned IDs or forms
- fax logs (if multifunction)
On many models, this information is:
- unencrypted
- accessible via the network
- retained far longer than expected
Your printer may be quietly holding onto sensitive paperwork you “thought” was gone.
3. Printers offer attackers a perfect foothold into your network
A compromised printer allows attackers to:
- pivot laterally (move to laptops, phones, NAS drives)
- exfiltrate documents silently
- collect credentials
- modify print jobs
- launch attacks through the print spooler
This is not speculation, it’s documented threat behavior. Just google "printer breach" and you'll see what we mean.
4. Remember “PrintNightmare”? That wasn’t just a Windows problem.
In 2021, the Windows Print Spooler vulnerability (PrintNightmare) allowed attackers to run code with SYSTEM privileges simply through print services.
Impact:
- Millions of PCs vulnerable
- Enterprise networks exposed
- Printers used as a bridge for remote code execution
Home users were affected too — most without realizing why their devices were suddenly unsafe.
5. Printer firmware is rarely updated, and often vulnerable
People update:
- phones
- laptops
- tablets
- smart TVs
Printers? Almost never.
The average consumer has no idea:
- how to update printer firmware
- where to find updates
- what the updates fix
- whether their printer is still supported
Outdated firmware + network connectivity = textbook IoT attack scenario.
Not to mention Printers aren't necessarily designed with security in mind. Security issues rarely affect the bottom dollar for a printer manufacturer, so updates are generally functional fixes rather than security.
6. Printers are the only device in your home with full local network access that nobody ever audits
Think about it:
- You check router settings.
- You review app permissions.
- You update your OS.
- You secure your Wi-Fi network.
But your printer?
It’s been sitting there for 4+ years with:
- outdated firmware
- full access to your network
- a web interface accessible from any device
- no password
- no firewall rules
- no logging
If a hacker scanned your network, the printer would light up like a neon invitation.
7. Printers are so low on the priority list that they’re the perfect target
Attackers know:
- nobody monitors printers
- nobody updates them
- nobody patches them
- nobody checks their logs
- nobody treats them like real computers
That combination makes home printers the ideal infiltration point.
So yes — your printer is probably the weakest link in your network
Not your phone.
Not your laptop.
Not your Wi-Fi.
Your printer — the device you forgot was even connected.
And the safest way to handle printing?
Don’t own one.
We can help with that.
When you upload a document securely to Have It Printed, you’re not maintaining firmware, exposing your network, or risking your devices.
You’re isolating the job to a secure, single-purpose workflow that doesn’t compromise your personal network.
Which is exactly how it should work.