How to protect your print devices from malware

Xerox and McAfee announced a new protection against malware and viruses releasing the first networked multifunction printer to use McAfee Embedded Control software, a filtering way that allows only approved programs to pass through.

“When a multifunction device receives data and processes it for printing, copying, scanning or faxing, it becomes susceptible to malware attacks – a susceptibility that often is overlooked,” said Tom Moore, vice president, Embedded Security, McAfee.

The Xerox and McAfee security solution enhances processes for IT administrators with software embedded into a multifunction device’s controller in order to offer immediate alert and audit trail for tracking and investigating the time and origin of security attacks – and take needed actions. This reduces the need for IT administrators to constantly stay on top of malware threats and proactively block them.

Survey data from Xerox and McAfee underscores the need for embedded security in networked printers and multifunction devices. In a poll of office workers taken earlier this year, more than half (54 percent) say they either don’t always follow their company’s IT security policies (33 percent) or aren’t even aware of the policies (21 percent) – leaving the security of customer credit card numbers, financial reports, and human resource and tax documents at risk.

The study also revealed that 39 percent of employees who copy, scan or print confidential information at work say they wonder if  the information they send to a networked device will remain safe.

“IT administrators don’t always consider printers as a threat – and with the Embedded Control software, we’ve put up even more defenses in our products so they don’t have to,” said Rick Dastin, president, Xerox Office and Solutions Business Group.