Knowing how to dispose of a printer safely could mean the difference between protecting your personal data and allowing it to fall into the wrong hands
We’ve all grown savvy to safeguarding our personal data on computers and phones, meticulously encrypting emails, setting up complex passwords and regularly updating our software. But despite our best efforts, there’s a vulnerability we often overlook that could be sitting right on our desks: the humble printer. Believe it or not, figuring out how to dispose of a printer could make or break your security.
Revelations about certain printers have shed light on the unforeseen security risks that could be lurking in our offices and homes. But with the following tech tips from cybersecurity experts—we talked to Chris Pierson, PhD, the CEO of the cybersecurity company BlackCloak, and Alex Hamerstone, a director at the security-consulting firm TrustedSec—you’ll be able to combat the unexpected threat found in many printers and fortify your data against hackers.
Read on to find out what disposing of a printer means for your privacy and how to keep your information safe and secure.
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How can your printer put your personal information at risk?
It boils down to the fact that any digital device that connects to your home Wi-Fi, including your printer, stores data about the network on its hard drive. This is normally a good thing because it allows the printer to automatically connect to the internet without asking you to re-enter the information every time.
When you sell or recycle a printer, you should delete this saved data by performing a memory wipe or factory reset, according to Pierson. This prevents cybercriminals from discovering and exploiting the information.
There’s just one problem: In 2023, Canon announced that a security flaw in a handful of its printers left behind the stored Wi-Fi information even after the reset process. If a hacker gained access to the printer after you sold it or threw it away, they could find these wireless settings simply by going to the Wi-Fi option in the main menu.
Canon’s advisory noted that this issue affected several of its printer models, including the E, G, GX, iB, iP, MB, MG, MX, PRO, TR, TS and XK series.
What type of information is at risk?
Data about your wireless settings—including your Wi-Fi name, Internet Protocol address and the password to the network—could all stick around even after resetting your printer. Once hackers find that information through the menu commands, they could easily log in to your Wi-Fi and spy on your online activity, including sensitive information like your bank account login, credit card numbers and personal photos.
Fortunately, there have been no reports of anyone falling victim to this issue in real life yet. This suggests that Canon got word of this flaw from either a researcher or customer who noticed it, according to Pierson.
Is this a potential problem with all printers?
While the notice was specific to Canon’s printers, it “serves as a reminder [of the risks] to everyone with any electronic device that connects to a home network,” Pierson says. That includes other Wi-Fi-connected printers, as well as smart devices like your Ring doorbell, refrigerator, dryer and even light bulbs.
In fact, you might be surprised by all the devices in your house that access and store your Wi-Fi settings—and consequently might leave your data vulnerable. “Wi-Fi-connected devices have proliferated, and [they include] things that we may not think of,” says Hamerstone. “A lot of low-priced consumer electronics from previously unknown manufacturers have Wi-Fi access now, and I would be more worried about those.”
That’s why it’s important to know how to dispose of a printer or any electronic device that you plan to donate or discard. “Given that the holiday season is right around the corner, this is a great reminder that when discarding old devices, ensure you wipe or do a factory reset on those devices to mitigate data leakage,” Pierson says.
How do you dispose of a printer the right way?
Before you throw away or donate your device, or even send it in for repair, you should always perform a factory reset to erase all stored information. The specific steps for a factory reset will vary depending on your printer model, but the reset function is typically found under the “General” or “Setup” setting in the main menu.
For Canon printers, follow these steps for a factory reset:
- Go to the Setup option in the main menu.
- Select “Device settings.”
- Select “OK.”
- Choose “Reset settings.”
- Select “OK.”
- Find Reset, then choose “OK.”
- Select “Yes” to restore the printer to factory settings.
Users who have one of the affected Canon printers should take the following additional steps to ensure their Wi-Fi data is deleted:
- In the menu, go to “Reset settings.”
- Select “Reset all.”
- Enable the wireless LAN.
- Follow the first step one more time, going to “Reset settings” and selecting “Reset all.”
If you have a Canon printer model that does not have the “Reset all settings” function, do this instead:
- Select “Reset LAN settings.”
- Enable the wireless LAN.
- Select “Reset LAN settings” one more time.
What else should you keep in mind about printer safety?
Wiping your Wi-Fi settings isn’t the only step you should take to protect personal information stored on your printer. Aside from learning how to dispose of a printer properly, here are more tips to boost your printer-safety IQ:
- Choose a printer model that offers extra security features, such as built-in encryption, authentication, a firewall and firmware update capabilities.
- Adjust your printer’s privacy settings to better protect your information. You could even do this for any old cell phones you plan to recycle or discard. For example, try disabling or limiting the printer’s network connectivity, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or cloud services, if you don’t need or use those features. You can also disable the printer’s memory or hard drive to erase your data after printing.
- Enable the printer’s password, PIN or biometric authentication to prevent anyone from accessing its data without permission.
- Keep your printer’s software up to date, which will fix bugs and patch any security vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit.
- If you are printing documents with sensitive information like bank or financial data, consider using encryption tools or software, such as BitLocker or VeraCrypt, to encrypt your files before printing.
- Wipe or remove the hard drive on your printer before donating or discarding it.
- Avoid connecting your printer to public Wi-Fi, which could leave it vulnerable to spyware and other security risks.
FAQs
Can I just throw away an old printer?
No, avoid it! Electronic equipment, such as printers and other devices, cannot just be tossed in the trash. As e-waste, they might be harmful to the environment and could also put your private browsing data into the wrong hands.
That’s why knowing how to recycle a printer and other tech tools is such a key skill. It’s best to use the manufacturer’s free take-back program or go to an e-waste collection site and deposit it there, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
What should I do with leftover printer ink or toner cartridges?
Great news: You can just put them in the trash. But don’t chuck them into your regular curbside recycling, as they may contain plastic, metal and toxic chemicals. You can also with the manufacturer to see if it’s running any kind of take-back or mail-back program for empty or unused cartridges.
What are manufacturer take-back or trade-in programs for old printers?
Several manufacturers, including HP, Canon, Epson, Dell and Sony, run recycling programs for used printers. You can visit their websites and contact them about recycling e-waste such as printers, cartridges and toners. If there’s no local collection point near you, you could also ship the products to the manufacturer—the website should mention a list of instructions for shipping and mailing.
Alternatively, some retail outlets like Costco also run e-waste collection programs. Check with your local retailer to determine the store’s policy on waste collection and recycling.
About the experts
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Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of articles on personal technology, arming readers with the knowledge to protect themselves against cybersecurity threats and internet scams as well as revealing the best tips, tricks and shortcuts for computers, cellphones, apps, texting, social media and more. For this piece on how to dispose of a printer, Brooke Nelson Alexander tapped her experience as an Emmy-nominated reporter who specializes in tech and cybersecurity for Reader’s Digest. We rely on credentialed experts with personal experience and know-how as well as primary sources including tech companies, professional organizations and academic institutions. We verify all facts and data and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Chris Pierson, founder and CEO of BlackCloak
- Alex Hamerstone, advisory solutions director at TrustedSec
- Canon: “Vulnerability Mitigation/Remediation for Inkjet Printers”
- LinkedIn: “How do you handle printer security and data protection?”
- Department of Environment Conservation: “Recycling Consumer Electronic Waste”
- NYC Department of Sanitation: “Ink and Toner Cartridges”
