5 ways to secure your wireless printer

Although we don’t think much about it in our day-to-day lives, keeping your printer secure is important for safeguarding sensitive data and shielding your network from harmful attacks. Wireless printers connect to your Wi-Fi network, allowing you to print from any device within range by connecting them to the same Wi-Fi network instead of your desktop or laptop, as traditional printers do. 

This convenience can come at a price, though, since unprotected wireless printers can act as entry points for hackers looking to break into your network and steal private data. So, to help you protect your data and preserve network integrity, here are five ways to secure your wireless printer and keep your printing jobs safe.

5 ways to secure your wireless printer

1. Change the default login credentials

2. Secure your Wi-Fi network

3. Enable a firewall

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4. Update your printer’s firmware regularly

5. Disable unused features

1. Change the default login credentials

Having strong credentials can go a long way in protecting your devices and are the first line of defence against hackers. Most wireless printers come with default usernames and passwords that are easy to guess, like “admin” and “password,” thus allowing someone to gain unauthorised access to your printer and potentially your network. So, it is always recommended to change your passwords to something that is hard to guess and include a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.

2. Secure your Wi-Fi network

It’s also important to secure your Wi-Fi network to protect your printer from unauthorised access since your printer is connected to it. To do this, make sure you’re using a strong WPA2 encryption protocol, which encrypts data transmitted between your devices and the router. Additionally, set up a complicated password for your Wi-Fi network that is at least 15 characters long and does not include any personal information.

3. Enable a firewall

Enabling a firewall is also important since it acts as a security guard for your network, filtering incoming and outgoing traffic. Many routers come with a built-in firewall, so make sure to check for it and enable it if turned off. You can also look for settings on your printer itself that might allow firewall controls. Moreover, some advanced printers also let you limit incoming and outgoing connections to particular IP addresses or ports, further enhancing security.

4. Update your printer’s firmware regularly

Just like any other device, your printer’s firmware can have security issues as well. To keep your printer safe from unauthorised access, data breaches, and malware that could spread across your network, it’s always recommended to keep your printer’s firmware up-to-date.

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Usually, the manufacturer releases updates to fix these problems, so make sure to check for updates regularly. To update your printer’s firmware, check the manual or the manufacturer’s website for instructions.

5. Disable unused features

Many wireless printers have features like remote access, web services for scanning and storing directly to the cloud, or WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) for easy connection. While convenient, these features can be potential security risks if not properly secured or if you don’t use them. So it’s best to keep them disabled if you don’t need them or use them that often. Check your printer’s manual for instructions on how to disable these features.

With all these steps you can have a secured printer, and more importantly, a more secure network at home or office.