Bad firmware updates teach PC users the wrong habits

Don’t drive people to avoid necessary patches that protect them

- ALAINA YEE

Trust is everything. I’m not an IT expert, but I have spent decades fielding questions and tending to devices belonging to friends and family. They know I’m going to look out for their best interests.

But sometimes when I’m called to action, I discover my nearest and dearest have been making decisions that can harm them—for example, not installing security patches or other firmware updates. And it’s because their suspicion of a company outweighs their belief in me.

I can’t always talk them out of the behavior, either. That’s especially the case when the situation is like that with HP printers. Earlier this year, HP doubled down on its so-called “dynamic security” policy, issuing firmware updates for its printers that blocked the use of third-party ink. Instead of issuing warnings about supposed bootleg ink, the printer just won’t work.

Understandably, people were put out (including a couple of people I know) about these new draconian measures. They were even more infuriated when they realized that the only thing being protected is HP’s bottom line.