YOU never know what stores your information these days, or where it might leak out from.
But tech company Canon - which makes everything from cameras to medical equipment - has issued a warning over the inky digital fingerprints that are left behind in some of its printers.
Wi-Fi connected Canon inkjet printers store their internet connection settings.
The device holds on to that information, even when you've decided to dispose of it, or sell it on Facebook Marketplace.
This recently discovered flaw means other people can get their hands on your Wi-Fi network, and consequently, your personal data.
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The flaw can pose an even larger security and privacy risk for users if the printer memory is extracted by repair technicians, temporary users, or future buyers of the devices, according to Bleeping Computer.
Exposure of sensitive Wi-Fi connection information could help a malicious third-party gain unauthorised network access to a Canon printer user's network.
From there, the attacker has free rein.
They can steal data or launch other privacy-invading attacks.
The specific Wi-Fi information that’s stored in a Canon printer varies depending on the model and configuration.
But they generally hold onto the network SSID, the password, network type (WPA3, WEP, etc.), assigned IP address, MAC address, and network profile.
If you want to know if you're affected, Canon has provided a full list here.
Unfortunately, the list features 195 inkjet printers and is too extensive to list in this article.
To make sure you're not leaking your Wi-Fi information, you must wipe your internet settings from the device before a third-party has access to it.
You can do this by following these steps:
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- Reset all settings (Reset settings ‐> Reset all)
- Enable the wireless LAN
- Reset all settings one more time
For models that do not have the 'Reset all' function in the settings menu, users are advised to follow these steps instead:
- Reset LAN settings
- Enable the wireless LAN
- Reset LAN settings one more time
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