Lawsuits follow latest move to ‘brick’ hardware.

 

HP has continued to release software updates for its Dynamic Security system that bricks its printers when they're used with third-party ink cartridges —a controversial practice that has seen the company hit with several lawsuits in the US.

 

A "bricked" printer refers to a situation where the printer becomes completely non-functional, essentially turning into a "brick" or a useless object. 

 

In an interview with CNBC, HP CEO Enrique said HP's ultimate goal is transitioning to a subscription-based model for using its printers and ink cartridges.

 

"Our long-term objective is to make printing a subscription," Lores said. "This is really what we have been driving."

 

The Dynamic Security system can lock a user out of using HP printers when loaded with a non-HP ink cartridge. According to Lores, this measure is taken to protect customers against potential viruses.

 

"We have seen that you can embed viruses in the cartridges," Lores said in the interview. "Through the cartridge, [the virus can] go to the printer, [and then] from the printer, go to the network."

 

But cybersecurity experts responding to Lores' comments are sceptical of this supposed threat that HP claims to be protecting against. The plausibility of a virus in an ink cartridge being used to perpetrate an attack is low, they say, because such a hack would require high amounts of resources and coordination to pull off.

 

Lores confirmed to CNBC that HP loses money with each printer sold and that the company makes money with printer ink sales and subscriptions.