HP Dynamic Security: Difference between revisions

HP claims that when using an aftermarket cartridge, the customer is exposed to quality and potential security risks, compromising the printing experience.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhardwaj |first=Vishal |date=23 Jan 2024 |title=HP cites threat of viruses from non-HP printer cartridges to justify blocking their use, experts sceptical |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/HP-cites-threat-of-viruses-from-non-HP-printer-cartridges-to-justify-blocking-their-use-experts-sceptical.795726.0.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[NotebookCheck]]}}</ref> To go into more detail on the security part, HP CEO [[wikipedia:Enrique_Lores|Enrique Lores]] has explained that Dynamic Security aims to protect customer from viruses that could be injected into third party cartridges, and used to gain persistent access and full control of the printer. However, this type of attack has no real-world evidence to support it, as such an incident has never been documented. Experts argue that the risk of such an attack occurring is practically non-existent. It is worth noting that these security concerns only exist because HP's official cartridges contain chips, designed to verify authenticity and estimate ink levels. These chips are not essential for the printer to function properly. However, the ink level estimation feature is used to [[HP Printers Ink Requirements Controversy|restrict certain functionalities]], such as scanning, or faxing, when the one of four ink levels are too low.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Feb 2022 |title=can't scan due to low ink. I shouldn't need ink to scan a document. Is there a work around for this? |url=https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Scanning-Faxing-Copying/can-t-scan-due-to-low-ink-I-shouldn-t-need-ink-to-scan-a/td-p/8308292 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[HP]]}}</ref>

In March 2025, a firmware updated resulted in many people's HP LaserJet MFP M234dw/dwe printers not printing when firmware version 20250209 was pushed to these printers. Unlike previous Dynamic Security updates which targeted ''aftermarket'' cartridges, this update caused printers to reject even genuine HP toner cartridges (both 134X & 134A models) with "Error 11" (Toner Supply Memory Problem).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=8 Mar 2025 |title=Error Code 11 - M234DWE - Genuine Toner suddenly stopped working. Unable to clear error |url=https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printing-Errors-or-Lights-Stuck-Print-Jobs/Error-Code-11-M234DWE-Genuine-Toner-suddenly-stopped-working/m-p/9334587#M1034030 |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[HP]]}}</ref><ref>https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/forums/forumtopicprintpage/board-id/PostPrint/message-id/1034030/print-single-message/false/page/1</ref>

==How to disable Dynamic Security==

There are some printer models where Dynamic Security can easily be turned off:<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to Disable HP Cartridge Protection: Print Without Restrictions |url=https://www.compandsave.com/how-to-disable-hp-cartridge-protection |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[CompAndSave]]}}</ref>

*HP Officejet Pro 6970, 7740, 8210, 8700

*HP PageWide 300, 400, 500

*HP OfficeJet 6810, 6820

Some models can also be downgraded to older firmware versions [https://www.compandsave.com/hp-printer-firmware-downgrade using this guide] to allow older cartridges to work again, however this can brick the printer if the process fails or something else happens. If this is done, firmware updates '''must''' be disabled.  

*CAN Article regarding Class Action Lawsuit: https://clg.org/Class-Action/List-of-Class-Actions/HP-All-in-One-Printer-and-Third-Party-Ink-Cartridge-Incompatibility-Canadian-Class-Action

*US Article regarding Class Action Lawsuit: https://www.courthousenews.com/class-action-against-hp-over-all-in-one-printers-survives-motion-to-dismiss/

*CLASS ACTION: https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/hp-all-in-one-amended-complaint.pdf

[[Category:HP Inc.]]

[[Category:Anti-consumer practices]]