Canon warns of Wi-Fi security risk when discarding printers

In a new security alert to customers, Canon Inc has announced that it had uncovered vulnerability in 196 of its inkjet printer models—including some wide-format printers—where Wi-Fi connection settings are not deleted by the usual initialisation process. In an advisory note titled, Vulnerability Mitigation/Remediation for Inkjet Printers (Home and Office/Large-Format), Canon said the security vulnerability could lead to a breach of user privacy and data security, when your printer may be in the hands of any third party, such as when repairing, lending or disposing the printer. The full Canon statement reads that sensitive information on the Wi-Fi connection settings stored in the memories of inkjet printers (home and office/large-format printers) may not be deleted by the usual initialisation process.