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Idea for startup. 1. write a script to scrap google links to HP admin panel 2. filter out the IPs that are from US (given you want to work on US market) 3. a

Idea for startup. 1. write a script to scrap google links to HP admin panel 2. filter out the IPs that are from US (given you want to work on US market) 3. assemble the list of printer types and current toner levels. 4. write a script that will print to each of those printers a one single page, stating your company "Cheapo Suppliers Inc" was notified that "your printer is low on toner. Call xxxxxx to re-fill. Lowest prices quaranteed within one day delivery!". You can add link to your shop page that already redirects user to specific type of printer they have, some type of one-click order (based on which toners are low). 5. daily rinse repeat. 6. sell your business to HP (at least try to).

rorrr 14y ago
That's probably illegal not only in the US.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
fishbacon 14y ago
Better yet, print a QR code, they can just scan it with their iPhone.
- kenbellows 14y ago
  What a great way to distribute malware. Host it on a server somewhere, encode the URL in a QR code, and print just the code, blown up large, with no descriptors to printers everywhere. People will be so intrigued they'll just scan it. Aaaaaaaaand infected.
  - _quasimodo 14y ago
    talking about hp printers and malware: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njVv7J2azY8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njVv7J2azY8
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
halviti 14y ago
In the US, this will get you arrested, you will have a huge fine and probation, and prison time is not off the table. I'll refer you to the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, which does not just govern unsolicited e-mail, but all commercial mail which the law defines as electronic communication (bulk faxes, etc.)
- joering2 14y ago
  Lets not overreact here. The printers are on public wire. You had not done any crime by using Google to find them. You obtained access to their open HP admin panel via public link with no password or credentials you had to pass. You haven't stole any information and, furthermore, there is NO confidential information even to be stolen to start with. On the top of that, you cannot even determine who they are (name, company, address, email, nothing?). They are totally undefinable sitting by a raw IP address. Sure you know someone is using HP printer. Can you get legally punished for that? I don't think that taking advantage of a publicly accessible information is punishable by jail, especially since noone got hurt and no information were stolen, whether it is information someone made their living off of (Aaron case), or just totally worthless information as of what brand computer of printer is being used. It would be hard for a company to sue you -- (lack of merit)? If Google got away with snooping private data from open Wifs (and I am sure they made some sort of use from all that gathered data, even if only internally), then I am pretty sure you wont get any heat for such a petite stretch of snooping people's printers. another though: you may say that someone can sue you for printing a page using their material and toner, but thats too little of damage to even start with. However, arguendo, if you would get slammed with class action lawsuit, you are most likely a millionaire from your idea anyways :)
  - evan_ 14y ago
    > The printers are on public wire. > You had not done any crime by using Google to find them. > You obtained access to their open HP admin panel via public link with no password or credentials you had to pass. There's even less barrier to sending a junk fax, and that can get you fined and potentially jailed.
samstave 14y ago
Nostalgia Scam Time: Back in the late 90s there was a common scam run against big-ish offices. A caller would call asking to talk to the person in charge of printers, typically either IT or Facilities. Once connected they would say that they are sending out the recipients free gift, which was some lame piece of electronics - often a small television. They would get the work address and confirmation to ship the free gift. They would claim that along with the free gift - they would send a sample toner cartridge that had "super fine toner in it, certified by HP to last 3 times as long as other toner cartridges" Then, along with the free gift, a PALLET of toner cartridges would be sent - along with an invoice for some ridiculous amount. When I got my first call about these "super fine toner cartridges" - I got suspicious and contacted HP. They told me about the scam - but that it was hard to find the people. They asked me to get as much info as I could from them if they called again. I got a call again, got as much info as I could without accepting the offer for the free gift - but they wound up sending it to me, along with the pallet of cartridges as well. HP came to my office and picked it all up after contacting them again. Over the years - I received more of these calls - and as soon as they brought up toner and free gifts, I tol them I knew the scam they were running - and they would promptly hang up on me...
- raverbashing 14y ago
  There's some law against postal fraud that says whatever they send you though the post is yours (to avoid exactly this kind of scam) You can try not paying the invoice and see what happens.
  - samstave 14y ago
    Yeah - this was in 1997...
    - mistercow 14y ago
      I think that law dates back decades. I don't think it applies to non USPS carriers though. That said my Google-fu is weak against this particular law.

rorrr 14y ago

That's probably illegal not only in the US.

deleted 14y ago
[deleted]

fishbacon 14y ago

Better yet, print a QR code, they can just scan it with their iPhone.

kenbellows 14y ago
What a great way to distribute malware. Host it on a server somewhere, encode the URL in a QR code, and print just the code, blown up large, with no descriptors to printers everywhere. People will be so intrigued they'll just scan it. Aaaaaaaaand infected.
- _quasimodo 14y ago
  talking about hp printers and malware: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njVv7J2azY8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njVv7J2azY8

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

halviti 14y ago

In the US, this will get you arrested, you will have a huge fine and probation, and prison time is not off the table. I'll refer you to the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, which does not just govern unsolicited e-mail, but all commercial mail which the law defines as electronic communication (bulk faxes, etc.)

joering2 14y ago
Lets not overreact here. The printers are on public wire. You had not done any crime by using Google to find them. You obtained access to their open HP admin panel via public link with no password or credentials you had to pass. You haven't stole any information and, furthermore, there is NO confidential information even to be stolen to start with. On the top of that, you cannot even determine who they are (name, company, address, email, nothing?). They are totally undefinable sitting by a raw IP address. Sure you know someone is using HP printer. Can you get legally punished for that? I don't think that taking advantage of a publicly accessible information is punishable by jail, especially since noone got hurt and no information were stolen, whether it is information someone made their living off of (Aaron case), or just totally worthless information as of what brand computer of printer is being used. It would be hard for a company to sue you -- (lack of merit)? If Google got away with snooping private data from open Wifs (and I am sure they made some sort of use from all that gathered data, even if only internally), then I am pretty sure you wont get any heat for such a petite stretch of snooping people's printers. another though: you may say that someone can sue you for printing a page using their material and toner, but thats too little of damage to even start with. However, arguendo, if you would get slammed with class action lawsuit, you are most likely a millionaire from your idea anyways :)
- evan_ 14y ago
  > The printers are on public wire. > You had not done any crime by using Google to find them. > You obtained access to their open HP admin panel via public link with no password or credentials you had to pass. There's even less barrier to sending a junk fax, and that can get you fined and potentially jailed.

samstave 14y ago

Nostalgia Scam Time: Back in the late 90s there was a common scam run against big-ish offices. A caller would call asking to talk to the person in charge of printers, typically either IT or Facilities. Once connected they would say that they are sending out the recipients free gift, which was some lame piece of electronics - often a small television. They would get the work address and confirmation to ship the free gift. They would claim that along with the free gift - they would send a sample toner cartridge that had "super fine toner in it, certified by HP to last 3 times as long as other toner cartridges" Then, along with the free gift, a PALLET of toner cartridges would be sent - along with an invoice for some ridiculous amount. When I got my first call about these "super fine toner cartridges" - I got suspicious and contacted HP. They told me about the scam - but that it was hard to find the people. They asked me to get as much info as I could from them if they called again. I got a call again, got as much info as I could without accepting the offer for the free gift - but they wound up sending it to me, along with the pallet of cartridges as well. HP came to my office and picked it all up after contacting them again. Over the years - I received more of these calls - and as soon as they brought up toner and free gifts, I tol them I knew the scam they were running - and they would promptly hang up on me...

raverbashing 14y ago
There's some law against postal fraud that says whatever they send you though the post is yours (to avoid exactly this kind of scam) You can try not paying the invoice and see what happens.
- samstave 14y ago
  Yeah - this was in 1997...
  - mistercow 14y ago
    I think that law dates back decades. I don't think it applies to non USPS carriers though. That said my Google-fu is weak against this particular law.