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Most people worry about someone hacking their computer or phone, but almost no one thinks about their wireless printer. It sits quietly in the corner — out of sight, out of mind — until you need to print something. Yet that overlooked device is one of the easiest ways for an attacker to slip onto your home network.
Just how real is the threat? Security researchers at Cybernews once hijacked nearly 28,000 unsecured printers around the world to prove the point. At eMDTec, we don’t want your wireless printer to be that open door. Below are seven smart, practical ways to secure it and keep your whole network safe.
7 Smart Ways to Secure Your Wireless Printer
The good news is that securing a printer doesn’t require deep technical skills or expensive tools. A handful of small adjustments — most of which take just a few minutes each — dramatically shrink the risk. Work through the steps below at your own pace, and you’ll turn one of your network’s weakest points into a well-defended one.
1. Change the Default Login Credentials
New printers ship with default usernames and passwords, and hackers keep master lists of them. During setup, immediately change those credentials to something strong and unique. It’s the single fastest way to shut out automated attacks against your wireless printer.
2. Keep Printer Firmware Updated
Just like your computer, your printer’s firmware needs regular updates to patch security holes. Firmware updates are easy to miss because they rarely pop up on their own. Check for them in a few places:
- The manufacturer’s utility app on a connected device
- The printer’s own information panel
- The printer manufacturer’s website
3. Use a Network Firewall
A network firewall monitors incoming and outgoing traffic and can block suspicious activity before it reaches your devices. Enabling one adds an important layer of defense around your wireless printer and everything else on your network.
4. Put Your Printer on a Guest Network
Most modern home routers let you create a separate guest Wi-Fi network. Placing a less-secure device like a printer on that guest network keeps it isolated from your computers and phones, so a compromised printer can’t become a gateway to your important data.
5. Disable Unused Ports or Services
Like most IoT devices, a wireless printer offers many ways to connect — and you probably don’t need them all. Turn off any ports and sharing features you aren’t using. Fewer open doors means fewer opportunities for an attacker to get in.
6. Unplug It When Not in Use
Home printers often sit idle for days or weeks at a time. When a device is powered off, there’s simply no way for a hacker to reach it. If you only print occasionally, unplugging your printer between uses is a simple, foolproof safeguard.
7. Teach Your Family Cybersecurity Best Practices
Your printer is just one of many devices on your home Wi-Fi. When everyone in the household follows good cyber habits, your whole network gets safer. Some best practices to share:
- Use strong passwords with at least 10–12 characters and a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols
- Enable multi-factor authentication wherever it’s offered
- Watch out for phishing emails and suspicious links
- Keep every device’s software and firmware up to date
Get Help Keeping Your Family’s Data Secure
IT pros don’t just work with businesses — we help families keep their data safe and their devices running smoothly, too. If you’d like a hand securing your wireless printer and the rest of your connected home, eMDTec is here for you. Let’s make your network a much harder target.
Not sure whether your printers and other connected devices are leaving the door open to attackers? eMDTec helps families and small businesses lock down every device on the network. Let’s review your setup and close the gaps for good.