Man-in-the-middle Design Discovered to Bypass HP Cartridges

Man-in-the-middle Design Discovered to Bypass HP Cartridges

According to Hackaday.com, a man-in-the-middle circuit board has been discovered in one of the third-party cartridges for use in HP printers, allowing it to bypass HP’s ban on aftermarket consumables.

Jay Summet, a YouTube creator reviewing a wide range of products, demonstrated in a video how a third-party cartridge for the HP 61XL series successfully circumvents the authentication process of HP printers.

The cartridge employs a flexible circuit board with metal contacts on both sides that align with those on the printer and the cartridge. A small chip is positioned between the cartridge and the printer, intercepting and manipulating the communication between them. This likely tricks the printer into believing it is using an official HP cartridge, allowing normal operation.

HP is not oblivious of the hacking method, either. Earlier this year, HP CEO Enrique Lores commented on the firmware upgrade of HP printers, claiming it could prevent viruses from spreading to the network and protecting users with their Dynamic Security DRM (digital rights management) system. This is achieved by adding a chip to each cartridge, prohibiting manual refilling with a syringe and stopping a cartridge from working if the chip is removed.

Despite these efforts, consumable suppliers have implemented various strategies, including the man-in-the-middle approach, to ensure compatibility with OEM devices. Additionally, many customers opt for third-party cartridges due to cost considerations. As a result, remanufactured cartridges are becoming increasingly common, despite the restrictions imposed by HP.

Related:

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• HP Introduces Print AI for Enhanced Functionality
• HP Releases Fiscal 2024 Q3 Results
• HP Settles Firmware Update Lawsuit After Four Years
• HP China Responds to Supply Chain Shift Claim

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