Hewlett-Packard (HP) is once again blocking users from using third-party ink cartridges in HP printers. People have been growing increasingly frustrated with HP as it has been using firmware updates to block the use of non-HP-brand ink cartridges in its printers. The company cited security as the reason for the step.
The HP community forum said that a recent firmware upgrade for printers has disabled the use of non-HP ink as part of the company’s strict “dynamic security” policy, as per a report in The Verge.
Notably, HP had earlier faced class-action lawsuits for its “dynamic security,” besides widespread criticism. Dynamic security prompts HP printers to authenticate whether the ink cartridges being used are of HP or not. It blocks the use of ink or toner cartridges that do not include “new or reused HP chips or electronic circuitry”.
Since 2018, it has paid millions in class-action lawsuits for the policy, including to customers in the US, Australia, and Italy.
However, despite all the criticism, HP has extended it to more devices. This has led to anger and frustration among users.
Our advice? Switch off firmware updates on your HP printer. How you ask, Google is your friend!!
