How Often Should You Check for Printer Security Updates?

🔧Step-by-Step Fixes

Fix 1: How Often to Check for Updates

The recommended schedule depends on your environment and risk tolerance.

For Home Users:

• Monthly checks are a good baseline for most people
• Set a reminder on the first of each month to check for printer firmware updates
• This balances security with the time investment required

For Small Business/Home Office:

• Bi-weekly checks (every 2 weeks) if you handle sensitive documents
• Subscribe to manufacturer security bulletins so you're notified of critical updates

For Businesses Handling Sensitive Data (Medical, Legal, Financial):

• Weekly checks or enable automatic updates with testing on a non-critical device first
• Implement a formal patch management policy
• Critical security updates should be applied within 48 hours of release

After Major Security Announcements:

• Immediately check for updates when you hear about printer vulnerabilities in the news
• Examples: PrintNightmare (2021), various printer vulnerabilities announced annually
• These require immediate action, not waiting for your regular schedule

Fix 2: How to Check for Updates Manually

Here's how to check if your printer has available firmware updates.

Method A: Via Printer's Web Interface

1. Find your printer's IP address (print a network configuration page from the printer's control panel)
2. Type the IP address into a web browser (like http://192.168.1.100)
3. Log in with admin credentials
4. Navigate to Settings, Maintenance, Tools, or Firmware Update
5. Click Check for Updates or Update Now
6. If an update is available, the printer will show the version number and changes
7. Click Download and Install
8. Do not turn off the printer during the update (this can brick the device)
9. The printer will restart when the update is complete

Method B: Via Manufacturer's Website

1. Go to your printer manufacturer's support site:
   • HP: support.hp.com
   • Canon: canon.com/support
   • Epson: epson.com/support
   • Brother: brother.com/support
2. Enter your printer model in the search box
3. Navigate to Drivers & Downloads or Software & Firmware
4. Look for the latest firmware version
5. Compare the version number to what's currently on your printer (visible in the printer's web interface under "About" or "System Information")
6. If a newer version is available, download it
7. Follow the manufacturer's installation instructions (usually uploading the firmware file via the printer's web interface)

Method C: Via Printer's Control Panel

1. Some printers can check for updates directly from their touchscreen
2. Press Home or Menu
3. Navigate to Settings > Maintenance or Printer Update
4. Select Check for Updates
5. If available, follow on-screen prompts to download and install

Fix 3: Enable Automatic Firmware Updates (With Caution)

Automatic updates ensure you're always protected, but they come with trade-offs.

Pros of Automatic Updates:

• You never forget to update
• Critical security patches are applied immediately
• Less manual work

Cons of Automatic Updates:

• Updates can occasionally introduce bugs or break compatibility
• No chance to test before deploying (important for businesses)
• Privacy concerns: printer may send usage data to manufacturer
• Updates might happen at inconvenient times

How to Enable (if you decide to):

1. Access your printer's web interface
2. Go to Settings > Firmware Update or Maintenance
3. Look for Automatic Updates or Auto-Update
4. Enable it and select update frequency (usually "Check daily" or "Check weekly")
5. Some printers let you set a time window (like "between 2-4 AM")
6. Save settings

Recommended Approach (Best of Both Worlds):

• Enable Automatic Check but keep Automatic Installation disabled
• Printer will notify you when updates are available, but you control when to install
• This gives you awareness without giving up control

Fix 4: Subscribe to Security Bulletins and Alerts

Stay informed about critical vulnerabilities without constantly checking manually.

1. Visit your printer manufacturer's security page:
   • HP: hp.com/go/printingsecurity
   • Canon: Search for "Canon security advisories"
   • Epson: epson.com/security
   • Brother: Check their support portal for security bulletins
2. Sign up for email alerts or RSS feeds for security advisories
3. Follow tech security sites like CISA.gov (US Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency) for alerts about printer vulnerabilities
4. Join relevant forums or subreddits (like r/sysadmin) where critical vulnerabilities are discussed

When a critical vulnerability is announced, update immediately rather than waiting for your regular schedule.

Fix 5: Document Your Firmware Versions

Keep track of what firmware is running on your printers so you know what's current.

1. Create a simple spreadsheet or note with:
   • Printer model
   • Current firmware version
   • Date last checked
   • Date last updated
   • Where to download updates (direct link)
2. Update this log every time you check or install firmware
3. Set a calendar reminder to review the log monthly

This is especially important if you have multiple printers or are managing printers for a small business.

Fix 6: Test Updates on Non-Critical Devices First (Businesses)

For businesses with multiple identical printers, test updates before mass deployment.

1. Identify one printer as a "test device"—preferably one that's used but not mission-critical
2. When a firmware update is released, install it on the test device first
3. Use the printer normally for 2-3 days
4. Watch for:
   • Print quality issues
   • Connectivity problems
   • Feature breakage
   • Error messages
5. If everything works smoothly, deploy the update to remaining printers
6. If there are issues, hold off and contact manufacturer support or wait for a fixed version

Fix 7: When NOT to Update

There are rare situations where you might want to delay an update.

• If your printer is working perfectly and the update only adds features you don't need (not security fixes): You can wait
• If you're in the middle of a critical project: Wait until downtime to avoid disruption
• If the update was just released and hasn't been tested by others: For businesses, wait 1-2 weeks and check online forums to see if others report issues
• If your printer is out of warranty and updating has risk: Some very old printers can be bricked by firmware updates. Research carefully first.

Important: Never skip security updates indefinitely. Even if you delay, apply them within a reasonable timeframe (2-4 weeks max for non-critical environments).