If you use a printer from a certain manufacturer but not original ink cartridges, you are in for a nasty surprise. The company can deactivate your printer at your home.
A manufacturer is taking rigorous action against third-party cartridges. (Source: NewAfrica / depositphotos.com)
- Hewlett-Packard (HP) does not agree to the use of third-party cartridges.
- If these are used, the manufacturer can switch off the printer.
After purchasing a printer, it can become expensive for customers later, because manufacturers sometimes charge a lot of money for the original ink cartridges. For this reason, cheaper cartridges from third-party manufacturers are popular.
Hardware manufacturers are of course reluctant to see this because they want to make more money by selling their own cartridges, and one company is taking particularly tough action against buyers of such cartridges.
Hewlett-Packard CEO Enrique Lores admitted in an interview with CNBC that he shuts down HP printers when third-party cartridges are used. You can see the YouTube video at the bottom of the article.
The shutdown has already happened in 2022 and 2023 for many buyers without warning after a firmware update, reports the technology magazine Arstechnica.
Customer anger was even followed by a lawsuit seeking financial compensation and an end to this practice.
Security feature detects cartridges
The shutdown works via the so-called “Dynamic Security System”, which is supposed to detect whether there is an HP chip in the printer cartridge. If this is not the case, functions of the printer will be switched off and users will probably no longer be able to use it regularly.
HP sees virus threat
Lores openly admits the procedure and describes it as a security measure because, according to him, viruses could get into the device and then into the network from such third-party cartridges. HP also wants to protect its own brand (IP).
However, according to Arstechnica, several hackers write that they are skeptical and consider this concern for HP’s security to be unreliable. One person believes that HP is simply spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt.
HP claims to have found a security risk
HP, in turn, refers to a project by the research company Actionable Intelligence from 2022. A researcher there found that viruses can get into the printer via third-party cartridges. They should even remain there when the cartridge is removed again.
This certainly does not justify HP simply switching off customers’ printers when using third-party cartridges without informing them in advance about the “Dynamic Security System” and based on many voices on the Internet it remains questionable whether such a threat really exists. as she describes HP.
Windows: This is how you solve printer problems
If you have problems with the printer or printer connection
Printer problems under Windows 10 are almost part of everyday life for anyone who prints a lot. If your printer is not working as expected, you can solve the problem step by step with our instructions.
In the long term, HP also wants to offer ink cartridges as part of a subscription. The company’s boss claims to enable simple and more environmentally friendly printing. HP would take back and recycle empty cartridges.
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