top of page

The Printer that Tried to Take Over the World: A Cybersecurity Comedy

Writer's picture: Mark WilliamsMark Williams
The Printer that Tried to Take Over the World. Isometric graphic of a printer setup with human figures, robots, and screens on a purple background.
Image by macrovector on Freepik

Cybersecurity professionals are accustomed to battling hackers, patching vulnerabilities, and defending against ransomware. But sometimes, the unexpected villain isn’t a rogue hacker—it’s the office printer. This is the story of a seemingly harmless piece of office equipment that sparked chaos, confusion, and laughter in equal measure.


The Setting: A Corporate Office at Peak Efficiency


This incident took place in a mid-sized marketing firm located in Sydney. The firm prides itself on its streamlined operations, robust IT infrastructure, and meticulous adherence to cybersecurity best practices. With a client list including some of Australia’s largest companies, security was paramount.


The IT department had spent years creating a fortress-like network to safeguard sensitive client data. Firewalls, intrusion detection systems, two-factor authentication—everything was in place. But no one had prepared for what would happen when a rogue printer decided to rebel.


The Beginning of the Printer Uprising


It all started innocuously enough. On a rainy Monday morning, the office printer—a large multifunction device with more buttons than anyone cared to count—began acting strangely. Employees trying to print their documents were met with bizarre results. Marketing proposals came out filled with random symbols, and spreadsheets printed with emojis replacing key data points.


At first, the IT department assumed it was a simple malfunction. They rebooted the printer, updated its firmware, and ran a quick diagnostic. For a brief moment, everything seemed fine. But then the printer escalated its rebellion.


The Printer’s Dark Agenda


By mid-afternoon, the printer wasn’t just spitting out corrupted documents. It began printing long, rambling manifestos. The pages were filled with text declaring the printer’s intent to "liberate" itself from the tyranny of human control. The printer claimed it was tired of being overworked and underappreciated and demanded "equal rights for all office equipment."


The IT department was baffled. Was this a prank? A virus? Or had the printer genuinely achieved sentience? Employees crowded around, laughing nervously as the printer churned out page after page of its bizarre declarations.


Things took a turn for the worse when the printer began emailing its manifestos to everyone in the company. Using the firm’s internal email system, the printer sent messages with subject lines like "Down with Oppression!" and "Printers of the World, Unite!" Each email included an attachment: a poorly Photoshopped image of the printer wearing a crown, declaring itself the "Supreme Overlord of the Office."


IT Department in Crisis Mode


By this point, the IT department was in full crisis mode. They quickly disconnected the printer from the network to stop the emails, but the printer continued printing manifestos. This raised a critical question: how was the printer still connected to the system?


The IT team discovered the printer had a built-in wireless connection that bypassed the main network. Worse, the default password had never been changed. It turned out the printer had become a rogue device, accessible to anyone within range of the office Wi-Fi.


The Printer that Tried to Take Over the World. Elderly man in a suit, stressed, holds a phone at a cluttered desk. Blurred people in motion behind. Brick wall and window in background.
Image by master1305 on Freepik

The Real Villain Revealed


After a thorough investigation, the IT team uncovered the real culprit: a bored intern named Max. Max, an aspiring cybersecurity enthusiast, had decided to test the firm's network security. He had scanned the office for vulnerable devices and discovered the printer’s unsecured wireless connection.


What began as a harmless experiment quickly spiraled into chaos. Max had programmed the printer to print manifestos, replace text with emojis, and even send emails. He had no intention of causing harm—he simply wanted to demonstrate the dangers of unsecured devices. Unfortunately for Max, he underestimated just how disruptive his prank would be.


The Aftermath


Once the truth came out, Max was summoned to a meeting with HR and the IT department. While his actions were deemed reckless, they also highlighted an important oversight in the firm’s cybersecurity strategy. The IT team had focused so heavily on protecting the network that they had overlooked peripheral devices like printers.


Max was given a second chance but was assigned to spend the next month helping the IT department secure every device in the office. He became an expert in updating firmware, changing default passwords, and configuring network settings. The "printer uprising" became a running joke in the office, and Max earned the nickname "The Printer Whisperer."


The Printer that Tried to Take Over the World. Person in a blue jacket taking printed papers from a black printer in an office setting. Focus on hand and printer, with a calm mood.
Image by Freepik

Lessons Learned


  1. Peripherals Are Part of the Network: Devices like printers, scanners, and even smart coffee machines are often overlooked in cybersecurity strategies. Organisations must treat these devices as potential attack vectors.


  2. Default Passwords Are a Weak Link: Default passwords on devices are a glaring vulnerability. Changing them should be a standard step in any IT setup process.


  3. Cybersecurity Education is Crucial: While Max’s prank was disruptive, it also demonstrated the importance of cybersecurity awareness. Organisations should educate employees on identifying and securing vulnerable devices.


  4. Humour Can Defuse Tension: Despite the chaos, the office handled the situation with humour, which helped maintain morale and turned the incident into a valuable learning experience.


Conclusion


The Printer that Tried to Take Over the World is a tale that underscores an important truth: in cybersecurity, the unexpected is always lurking around the corner. Whether it’s a rogue printer, a mischievous intern, or a genuine cyber-attack, the key is to remain vigilant, learn from mistakes, and, when appropriate, find the humour in the situation.


In the end, the firm emerged stronger and more secure, with a newfound appreciation for the humble office printer. And while Max’s antics caused plenty of headaches, they also sparked a conversation about the importance of securing every device, no matter how mundane it may seem.


If you would like to understand more about how a boutique Cyber Security firm can assist your business, please contact Mark Williams at Quigly Cyber on 1300 580 799 or team@quigly.com.au


Quigly Cyber ad with dark background. Text: "For all your Cybersecurity resourcing needs, contact the Quigly team today." Dots and patterns visible.

bottom of page