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CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide

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security and data privacy.

Network Security

The ease of access that makes wired or wireless network printers and

multifunction devices so useful is also a big risk; at best it means they’re

vulnerable to attacks over the LAN, and at worst it means they may be open

to attack from the entire Internet. While hardening a network printer or MFD

is beyond the scope of this book, it’s important to be aware of the risks these

devices present. There are the obvious immediate risks to the data and

documents flowing through the device, but because security is often

overlooked on these devices, they are also common starting points for an

attack on the broader network.

Data Privacy

If you think about it, a lot of sensitive information can pass through a printer

or MFD in most organizations, especially in places like schools and hospitals

where privacy is strictly regulated. When all of this information passes

through the printer or MFD, it’s important to make sure it isn’t leaking out.

Unfortunately, it’s common for modern devices to contain a hard drive or

other storage media used to cache copies of documents the device prints,

scans, copies, or faxes. Depending on the device, you may be able to disable

this feature, schedule regular deletion of the cache, or manually clear the

cache regularly to limit the amount of damage a compromise could cause. It’s

also important to clear this information before disposing of the device.

EXAM TIP The CompTIA A+ 1001 objectives refer to this as hard drive

caching, so be prepared to see this phrasing on the exam.

Disabling features like this wouldn’t be much good if anyone who could

use the device could also change the settings, so enterprise models often

allow for user authentication on the device. This can address a number of the

risks these devices present by limiting use to authenticated users, and

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