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I must say this is indeed a fascinating threat vector.

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

I don't see any instances of this type of attack in the wild. Also, if you made your cartridge "dumb" then there would be no threat vector any more.... no?

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Well - also just don't make printers with gaping security vulnerabilities.

Really, this whole supposed security issue is bunk and hokum. I do appreciate their efforts to give the world more reasons not to buy HP Printers.

Right, the cartridge could (should!) be made as dumb as possible. It seems unlikely you'd need it to do more than be an ink container. But regardless, if the printer can be hacked, and the network attacked via the printer, no amount of DRM at the cartridge interface will change the risk. If HP releases a hackable non-DRM printer, it would probably release a hackable DRM printer.

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