3 ms·

Brother recently went as evil as the rest of them: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31860131 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31860131

WarOnPrivacy 4y ago
For blocking Brother firmware updates (ports 80 & 443). update[.]brother[.]co[.]jp -> I blocked this domain and my printer is unable to query for updates. I can still download binaries from Brother's website. firmverup[.].brother[.]co[.]jp & update-akamai[.]brother[.]co[.]jp Other domains found by people sniffing their printer firmware updates.
myself248 4y ago
Came here to post this. The last of the good ones, squandered their reputation.
max-ibel 4y ago
I wonder if it's feasible to 3d-print a decent open source printer. Doesn't have to be perfect quality, the old deskjet 500s quality was fine for me. But I think making a simple inkjet printhead is still beyond a hobbyists effort. Laser printer or dot matrix likewise.
WarOnPrivacy 4y ago
To clarify, Brother is deploying toxic firmware to their MFC-3750s. I don't think this is widespread (yet). I did see requests to roll back firmware on a MFC-L3770CDW so other 37xx models may be at immediate risk. I did see posts about HL-L3290CDW and MFC-L8900CDW with the same No Toner symptom but it wasn't clear they ever had firmware updates. From what I can tell from your link, the OP there had a HL3070CN. It doesn't appear that he updated the firmware or ran into any No Toner errors. He was sharing reports about the 3750. My similar HL3040CW takes 3rd party cartridges (orig firmware). My vibe is Brother is test-fouling the water to see how it goes. For my part, I'll research how block firmware updates (not all models have an auto update to disable, IP & url blocking might block driver downloads. We shall see).
- justsomehnguy 4y ago
  > not all models have an auto update to disable, IP & url blocking might block driver downloads Just don't give a default router to it. Can't update if can't go out.

WarOnPrivacy 4y ago

For blocking Brother firmware updates (ports 80 & 443). update[.]brother[.]co[.]jp -> I blocked this domain and my printer is unable to query for updates. I can still download binaries from Brother's website. firmverup[.].brother[.]co[.]jp & update-akamai[.]brother[.]co[.]jp Other domains found by people sniffing their printer firmware updates.

myself248 4y ago

Came here to post this. The last of the good ones, squandered their reputation.

max-ibel 4y ago

I wonder if it's feasible to 3d-print a decent open source printer. Doesn't have to be perfect quality, the old deskjet 500s quality was fine for me. But I think making a simple inkjet printhead is still beyond a hobbyists effort. Laser printer or dot matrix likewise.

WarOnPrivacy 4y ago

To clarify, Brother is deploying toxic firmware to their MFC-3750s. I don't think this is widespread (yet). I did see requests to roll back firmware on a MFC-L3770CDW so other 37xx models may be at immediate risk. I did see posts about HL-L3290CDW and MFC-L8900CDW with the same No Toner symptom but it wasn't clear they ever had firmware updates. From what I can tell from your link, the OP there had a HL3070CN. It doesn't appear that he updated the firmware or ran into any No Toner errors. He was sharing reports about the 3750. My similar HL3040CW takes 3rd party cartridges (orig firmware). My vibe is Brother is test-fouling the water to see how it goes. For my part, I'll research how block firmware updates (not all models have an auto update to disable, IP & url blocking might block driver downloads. We shall see).

justsomehnguy 4y ago
> not all models have an auto update to disable, IP & url blocking might block driver downloads Just don't give a default router to it. Can't update if can't go out.