HP Concedes Concerted Hackers Could Start Printer Fires

Hewlett-Packard, the world's No. 1 printer maker, conceded some of its laser printers have a potential security vulnerability but denied they can be made to explode.

The company issued a statement after a report by MSNBC that cited Columbia University researchers who claimed some HP printers might be susceptible to a hacker attack. If successful, such attacks could cause a printer to catch fire and explode.

HP, though, while acknowledging it needs to upgrade its firmware to bolster security, said the printers' thermal breakers are insulated from any kind of attack and cannot explode.

Speculation regarding potential for devices to catch fire due to a firmware charge is false, the Palo Alto, Calif.-based computer giant announced. It also reproached sensational and inaccurate reporting on its corporate Web site.

Meanwhile, HP, which sells more printers than any other company, said it would design better firmware, or the embedded software in the laser jets, to mitigate this issue. The company acknowledged that printers on a public setting without a firewall could be hacked. In a private network, printers could be susceptible if a trusted party attempted a malicious effort.

HP reported full-year revenue from just its Imaging and Printing Group was $25.78 billion for the year ended Oct. 31, or 20 percent of overall revenue.

HP shares rose 37 cents to $26.90 in Tuesday trading.