Warning! Brother have started locking printers

[Mr Pointy]

There are reports that Brother have started issuing/forcing firmware updates that lock printers to OEM toner cartridges & removing old firmware from their website so you cannot revert:

https://www.tomshardware.com/peripherals/printers/...

Might be wise to check your printer cannot update it's firmware until this is confirmed or refuted.

[Road2Ruin]

Mr Pointy said:

There are reports that Brother have started issuing/forcing firmware updates that lock printers to OEM toner cartridges & removing old firmware from their website so you cannot revert:

https://www.tomshardware.com/peripherals/printers/...

Might be wise to check your printer cannot update it's firmware until this is confirmed or refuted.

There is always a way around. My old Xerox used to do this, then the compatible toner company updated it's chip on the toner.

[Alorotom]

My Brother printer was just plug/play and I have never installed any software for it at all - I assume that means it could be free from any such shenanigans!

Concerning though for those that get caught by the update and have a stockpile of toner!

[jesusbuiltmycar]

Alorotom said:

My Brother printer was just plug/play and I have never installed any software for it at all - I assume that means it could be free from any such shenanigans!

Concerning though for those that get caught by the update and have a stockpile of toner!

Is it connected to you LAN/WiFi - if so it can go and download firmware.

[otolith]

I do find it odd that the EU keeps going after tech companies for things that nobody outside the industry gives a fk about, claiming that this is on behalf of consumers, but have previously rejected complaints about the anti-competitive practices of printer manufacturers, whom everybody hates.

[2fa]

Right click status monitor icon in taskbar.

Other Settings.

Software Update Setting.

Don't want to receive any software information.

Or don't use the printer via your LAN, just by USB cable connection.