An independent reference on home printing and scanning. We don't sell devices or supplies, and we don't do repairs. We're not connected with the former site on this domain.
Security
A network printer is a small computer with its own memory, settings, and a password everyone forgets about the day they buy it. And a scanner is a device that handles passports, contracts, and medical records. None of this is scary, as long as you keep a few simple rules in mind and don't leave the doors wide open.
A default password is known to anyone who can read a manual, including people you never invited onto your network.
How this section works: we describe typical risks in general terms. Specific security settings have different names and look different from device to device, so look for them in your printer's manual and in the support section of the manufacturer's official website.
Situations that come up in ordinary homes more often than people think.
Many network printers have a settings page protected by a password that's the same across an entire product line or printed on a sticker. Change it to your own right after setup, and write it down wherever you keep your other passwords.
Manufacturers release firmware updates that patch vulnerabilities and fix bugs. Check for them in your device's settings or on the manufacturer's official website, and install them following the manual.
There's no reason for a home printer to be visible from the internet. Don't turn on remote access features unless you need them, and don't forward ports to it on your router just because someone online told you to.
A scanned passport left in a shared network folder or on the family computer is visible to everyone who has access. Keep files like these separate, and when you delete ones you no longer need, empty the trash too.
The last scan often stays under the lid, and a printout in the output tray. At home that's no big deal, but on a shared printer in an apartment building, an office, or a copy shop, it's a data leak.
All-in-one devices store network settings, and some keep copies of print jobs too. Before selling or recycling one, reset it to factory settings following the manual and delete any stored data.
Used cartridges and old printers don't belong in the household trash. Find out where your area accepts this kind of waste: sometimes it's an electronics drop-off site, sometimes an electronics store or a take-back program run by the manufacturer.
Before giving a device away, remove the paper and supplies, reset the settings, and delete any stored data. Keep used cartridges in a bag so ink or toner doesn't get all over everything.
Security here comes down to boring habits: a new password, current firmware, no outside access, and an organized scans folder. Each one takes a minute, and together they spare you most of the trouble.
Hands-on guides: connect a printer, print from your phone, save ink, and scan a stack of pages into a single file. The article catalog lives here too.
What's handy to keep near the printer: a supply of the right paper, a soft cloth, a spot for cartridges, a switched power strip, and a folder for scans.
What to do when paper jams, pages come out streaky, the printer says it's offline, the print queue gets stuck, or scans come out too dark.
Home printing terms explained: driver, print queue, cartridge, toner, printhead, document feeder, and text recognition.
Answers about this guide, everyday printing at home, and how to scan documents and store scans that contain personal information.
This advice is written in general terms and reflects our editors' understanding as of the review date. Printers and scanners work differently, and their menus and feature names vary too, so your device's manual is always the final word. If it says something different from us, go with the manual.