HP issues the following statement:

HP recently announced the potential for a certain type of unauthorized access to some HP LaserJet printers. The potential for this unauthorized access exists for LaserJet devices on a public Internet without a firewall, or for LaserJet devices in a private network, if a malicious effort is made by a party on the private network to modify the firmware of the device.

While no customer has reported to HP unauthorized access, HP has built a firmware update to mitigate this issue. To obtain the latest firmware for your product, access bulletin HPSBPI02728

SSRT100692 - Certain HP Printers and HP Digital Senders, Remote Firmware Update Enabled by Default at this link:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c03102449

Then:

1. Find your product in the table

2. If an update is available, you may click on the embedded link.

It will take you directly to the web page where the Firmware update is available.

Update your product's firmware using the instructions contained in the readme file for the firmware image. If you are an HP Managed Print Service customer, please contact your managed print services provider, who can install the firmware upgrade for you.

Because the security of our customers is of utmost importance to HP, we reiterate our recommendation to follow best practices for securing devices. This includes placing printers behind a firewall and, where possible, disabling remote firmware upload capabilities on exposed printers.

Additional information is available at http://www.hp.com/go/secureprinting

We are proud to announce that we have received confirmation from HP Technology Services that we have qualified as an HP ServiceONE Specialist Partner.

This means we meet HP’s rigorous standards to plan and deliver even your most ambitious projects.   

As an HP ServiceONE Specialist partner we are qualified to assess and implement new technologies, and offer proactive support solutions to optimize system-wide performance.

When you choose to work with us as an HP ServiceONE Specialist partner, you can feel confident that we have full, ready access to HP’s industry-leading technology experts, and the ability to harness those resources for you.

As an HP ServiceONE Specialist partner, we’re one of HP’s leading service providers, and can offer you the highest levels of local expertise.

For more info please visit: ServiceONE Specialist

Last week Hewlett-Packard shocked the business world with its plans for extreme changes to the company.  

Change # 1: HP announced the discontinuation of its tablet and smartphone lines including the HP Touchpad, launched less than two months ago. HP has also put their tablet and smartphone mobile operating system webOS on hold until a final decision is reached. Only a year ago HP acquired company Palm to take over this mobile operating system.

Change # 2: HP confirmed that it will be acquiring UK software firm Autonomy for $10.3 billion dollars with the deal to close by the end of this year.

Change # 3: HP announced that it is considering the spin-off of its Personal Systems Group division.

These coinciding announcements have sparked a myriad of rumors. The most conspicuous assumption floating around is that HP will stop producing hardware altogether, not just tablets and smartphones but PCs as well: very similar to IBM’s 2005 maneuver of selling their PC division to Lenovo. But HP, who famously merged with Compaq in 2002 to solidify itself as a major player in the computer world for the entirety of the last decade, claims that it will not be giving up its PC business. Senior Vice President and General Manager of Personal Systems Group Americas Division Stephen DiFranco stated that the HP board had come to the decision to “evaluate strategic alternatives for the Personal Systems Group business” and that the recent press releases are “not an announcement of a shutdown of HP’s PC business.”

Concerning the Touchpad, HP has promised to honor product warranties as well as continue to evolve, update and support webOS. However there is speculation that HP will sell webOS in the future as well, which only reinforces the notion that HP is pulling away from all personal computers, mobile and on-premise, and changing focus to business software and cloud computing.