A new man-in-the-middle (MITM) PCB device allows users to bypass HP’s strict printer cartridge restrictions, according to a recent report by Hackaday.
Jay Summet made a video showing how he developed a method to intercept communication between printers and cartridges. This solution enables the use of third-party or refilled cartridges, even in the wake of HP’s frequent firmware updates designed to block non-genuine products.
By exploiting this MITM method, users can now sidestep HP’s proprietary technology that typically forces reliance on original consumables, highlighting ongoing consumer frustrations with OEM restrictions in the tech sector.
Dynamic Security is a technology developed by HP to protect its printer ecosystem from counterfeit or unauthorized cartridges. It is implemented through firmware updates that check whether an inserted cartridge contains HP’s proprietary security chip. If the chip is not detected, the printer either rejects the cartridge or prevents printing.
HP has faced legal challenges over the implementation of dynamic security, as users claim it restricts competition and inflates costs. While HP maintains it is necessary to protect quality and intellectual property, the hack described on Hackaday shows how users are finding ways to bypass these controls, illustrating ongoing tensions between OEM policies and consumer desires for flexibility.
Jay Summet describes the method in the video below:
