July 03, 2025

Hands-On Apple 189: macOS Printers & Scanners

11 minutes

Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a serious flaw affecting nearly 700 Brother printer models that allows attackers to extract serial numbers and generate admin passwords without any authentication. Host Mikah Sargent walks through the step-by-step process of securing your Mac-connected printer using built-in macOS tools to access your printer's web interface and change those dangerous default passwords.

Major Printer Security Vulnerability Discovered - Rapid7 cybersecurity company found flaws affecting Brother, Toshiba, and Fujifilm printers, with 689 Brother models impacted by the most serious vulnerability

How the Attack Works - Bad actors can access printers without authentication, extract serial numbers, and use them to generate default admin passwords since manufacturers use predictable password generation methods

Viewing Printer Details and Options - How to check printer queue, sharing settings, driver information, and supply levels through the macOS interface for connected Brother printers

Opening Your Printer's Web Interface - Step-by-step guide to accessing the "Show Printer Web Page" option to reach your printer's built-in web server for advanced configuration

Checking and Updating Firmware - Importance of keeping printer firmware current, though updates don't completely solve the manufacturing-level vulnerability that requires Brother to address

Changing Default Admin Passwords - Critical security step of accessing the administrator login settings through the printer's web interface to replace factory default credentials

Host: Mikah Sargent

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