Hackers target network printers

Paper jams used to the biggest problem with printers, but now, high-tech home and office printers have become alluring targets for cyber criminals, reveals MSN.

Researchers at the ShmooCon 2011 convention in Washington DC will demonstrate how Internet-connected printers that are not properly secured can be hijacked and used to gain unauthorised access to corporate networks they are running on, according to an article in MIT's Technology Review.

The hacking program is called 'Praeda' (Latin for 'plunder') and works by exploiting common security flaws, such as default passwords left unchanged. Once inside the network, Praeda can be deployed to steal passwords and files, or take control of other devices connected to the same network.

Lexmark International turned in a fourth-quarter and full-year performance ahead of a year earlier, driven by what the company called record performance of its laser printers, notes Kentucky.com.

"2010 was a very good year for Lexmark," CEO Paul Rooke said in a statement. Fourth-quarter revenue of $1.1 billion was up 3% from the same period a year earlier and saw record laser revenue of $806 million, the company says.

That was up 8% year-over-year. Quarterly profit was $87.6 million, or $1.10 per share, up from $59.8 million, or 76c a share, a year earlier

FLIR Infrared Cameras and Thermal Imaging recently released an i3 infrared camera that the company says is ideally used for building and electrical inspections, writes Info Link.

This pocket-sized infrared camera is claimed to be affordable and cost effective and has been specifically designed to suit newcomers to thermography. “It has a very simple menu operation, image store in JPEG format in commonly used SD card, making it an easy task to share inspection result with colleagues,” the company says.

The product is said to be user-friendly with a high level of accuracy and focus free viewing. FLIR says its i3 infrared camera is manufactured to a rugged design with built-in lens protection.