> For example, if HP programs printers to start failing after N pages printed, would that ever be uncovered? Maybe. The problem with consumer devices is that t

> For example, if HP programs printers to start failing after N pages printed, would that ever be uncovered? Maybe. The problem with consumer devices is that they're much better protected from their end users, so it's harder to dump the firmware to reverse engineer it. Firmware update files, while you can easily get your hands on them, are usually encrypted. Sometimes it's so bad that the best course of action is to find an RCE vulnerability and exploit it. Though, with inkjet printers being as popular in some parts of the world as they are for some reason, and being as annoying as they are, I'm surprised no one has done that yet.