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Windows Protected Print Mode

techcommunity.microsoft.com

31–40 of 96 posts

Re: Windows Protected Print Mode

#31

Can we just remove all printing functionality from the OS? Printers are mostly networked in today's world. And the OS usually isn't involved when an application wants to talk to another device on the network beyond TCP connections etc. Just get the application to (using a library), connect directly to the printer, submit its job, show status, and disconnect when done.

While I completely agree with you, cheap printers do a lot of heavy lifting in the printer driver, so we'd have to give up on $100 inkjets. Which we a really should do, but, well, good luck with that.

Re: Windows Protected Print Mode

#34

This is well overdue, the existing situation is dire not just in terms of security but the general quality of software from the printer manufacturers. However this is going to break a lot of existing applications. The printer manufacturers have been laggards when it comes to adopting v4 drivers which date back to Vista.

I know some folks out there bragging about saving on toner by still repairing an HP LaserJet 2… I can’t see this being an easy transition…

Easy enough to setup a raspberry pi as a ipp server

Re: Windows Protected Print Mode

#35
I wonder if this will impact specialized photo and other graphic art printers? Things like the large format Epson and other Pro printers. What about plotters and vinyl cutout printers?

They usually have a ton of driver specific settings, etc. for tuning the output. How will these settings be managed without drivers specific to them?

Re: Windows Protected Print Mode

#36
What I do not understand is why the print spooler runs as the highest-privileged SYSTEM account. Any vulnerability in the print stack is basically game over. It seems to me that changing this long due and should be possible without dropping support to all old drivers (and printers).

Re: Windows Protected Print Mode

#37
post #31

Can we just remove all printing functionality from the OS? Printers are mostly networked in today's world. And the OS usually isn't involved when an application wants to talk to another device on the network beyond TCP connections etc. Just get the application to (using a library), connect directly to the printer, submit its job, show status, and disconnect when done.

While I completely agree with you, cheap printers do a lot of heavy lifting in the printer driver, so we'd have to give up on $100 inkjets. Which we a really should do, but, well, good luck with that.

Nowadays, cheap printers have to work with Android, which means they have to speak IPP. At least for basic printing, crappy drivers have been a thing of the past for a while now.

Re: Windows Protected Print Mode

#38
post #17

Can I put a USB printer in the USB port of my router and get network printing? I don't want to use WiFi printing nor want to keep one PC on the network on at all times which HAS to print one page before others on network can print using it. This Is windows network BTW

It would depend entirely on the software running on your router.

Would most likely just be CUPS?

Re: Windows Protected Print Mode

#40

I read the article and am not sure if this will be implemented in Windows 10 or not. I still use a 20 year old HP laserjet via Vista drivers that install OK for now, will I be forced to get a new printer?

Windows comes with a generic PCL6 driver which should be fine with a 20 year old LaserJet.
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