HP rubbishes researchers' claims that Laserjets could catch on fire

FLOGGER OF EXPENSIVE PRINTER INK HP has denied claims that a security vulnerability in its Laserjet printers could lead to them catching fire.

Researchers from Columbia University claimed that a security vulnerability present in some of HP's Laserjet printers could lead to the theft of information and even cause the devices to catch fire. Although the security vulnerability was concerning, initial reports focused on the claim that attackers could cause an affected HP Laserjet to catch on fire, which the company now claims is impossible.

Columbia's professor Salvatore Stolfo, the lead researcher on this project told MSNBC, "The research on this is crystal clear. The impact of this is very large. These [printers] are completely open and available to be exploited." He described how an attacker could send instructions to continually heat the fuser within a laser printer, causing it burn the paper.

HP issued a statement in which it lambasted 'sensationalist' reporting, stating, "Today there has been sensational and inaccurate reporting regarding a potential security vulnerability with some HP LaserJet printers. No customer has reported unauthorized access. Speculation regarding potential for devices to catch fire due to a firmware change is false."

While HP admitted that a security vulnerability does exist, it categorically stated that self-combustion is not a feature of Laserjet printers. "HP LaserJet printers have a hardware element called a "thermal breaker" that is designed to prevent the fuser from overheating or causing a fire. It cannot be overcome by a firmware change or this proposed vulnerability."

HP said it will issue a firmware fix for the affected printers. However, researchers had hypothesised that printers from other manufacturers could also be affected. µ