Canon printer hacked to run Doom video game

[Qtx]

A wireless Canon Pixma printer has been hacked to run classic video game Doom.

The hack was carried out by security researcher Michael Jordon, and it took four months to get the game running on the hardware.

He said he had undertaken the project to demonstrate the security problems surrounding devices that would form the "internet of things".

Canon said it planned to fix the loopholes on future printers to make them harder to subvert.

Control code
Like many modern printers, Canon's Pixma range can be accessed via the net, so owners can check the device's status. However, Mr Jordon found, Canon had done a poor job of securing this method of interrogating the device.

Rest @ BBC

[qasdfdsaq]

Sadly a problem all too common with just about all embedded or proprietary devices.

One of the few advantages of buying a super-popular product (e.g. iPhone, Chromebook etc.) because they're so high profile there's much more pressure and publicity to force a quick fix.

[Qtx]

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

One of the few advantages of buying a super-popular product (e.g. iPhone, Chromebook etc.) because they're so high profile there's much more pressure and publicity to force a quick fix.

Simple vulnerabilities and fix's yeah but decent vulnerabilities and exploits for popular products are sold via places like VUPEN (who then sell them on to governments and other 'legal' hacking outfits) rather than publicly disclosed, meaning everyone stays vulnerable as they don't even know to fix it.

While making Doom run on a printer sounds like a fun project, his disclosure would have had more impact if it had just said on the screen "I hacked this printer" and a picture of a skull and crossbones or something else sinister

[qasdfdsaq]

Originally Posted by Qtx

Simple vulnerabilities and fix's yeah but decent vulnerabilities and exploits for popular products are sold via places like VUPEN (who then sell them on to governments and other 'legal' hacking outfits) rather than publicly disclosed, meaning everyone stays vulnerable as they don't even know to fix it.

Well yeah, but that doesn't change whether it's a popular product or not. At least with the popular ones there's enough of a critical mass to kick up a fuss once it does come out.

[alanbjames]

PC World in Swansea has an open wireless HP Printer and yes u can print things on there.

I was waiting in a huge queue one day and started printing blank pages to it from my phone as it was situated behind the cashiers desk and the blonde woman was flipping out lol.

[qasdfdsaq]

And now they know it was you.

[rogerdraig]

why fix it i can play doom while waiting for 50 pages to print

[heero_yuy]

I always like Doom. Just roughly aim and blast 'em. Some of the later games got too complex in the aiming.

The original game-play with modern graphics, that would be awesome.

[rogerdraig]

the printer buttons may need some moding to survive lol