HP printers collect information about users and send it to HP.

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This is something I just found out when I got a notification from my Intego “NetBarrier” Firewall & etc. application of a request coming from HP to install the application “HP data uploader.”

Instead of clicking “OK”, I demurred and went instead on the Web to find out more about it, and came across this very interesting article:

“HP printers try to send data back to HP about your devices and what you print.”

https://robertheaton.com/2019/09/15/hp-printers-send-data-on-what-you-print-back-to-hp/

I think is in the interest of anyone who works with an HP printer, or probably any other HP product, to read this article.

Excerpt:

” In summary, HP wants its printer to collect all kinds of data that a reasonable person would never expect it to. This includes metadata about your devices, as well as information about all the documents that you print, including timestamps, number of pages, and the application doing the printing (HP state that they do stop short of looking at the contents of your documents). From the HP privacy policy, linked to from the setup program:

Product Usage Data – We collect product usage data such as pages printed, print mode, media used, ink or toner brand, file type printed (.pdf, .jpg, etc.), application used for printing (Word, Excel, Adobe Photoshop, etc.), file size, time stamp, and usage and status of other printer supplies. We do not scan or collect the content of any file or information that might be displayed by an application.

Device Data – We collect information about your computer, printer and/or device such as operating system, firmware, amount of memory, region, language, time zone, model number, first start date, age of device, device manufacture date, browser version, device manufacturer, connection port, warranty status, unique device identifiers, advertising identifiers and additional technical information that varies by product.”

……

“If pressed then I would have to concede that HP have at least made it possible for a moderately informed and motivated user (i.e. me) to work out the gist of what they are hoping to do with my data. They’ve camouflaged, but (as far as I can tell) they haven’t lied, and I imagine that they’ve been careful not to do anything illegal. And at the end of the day, how else is a company meant to persuade users to part with data that they would never knowingly part with if they properly understood what was happening?“

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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MrToad28, oldfry, Lars220, wavy, doriel, Rick Corbett, DrBonzo

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If you are suscribed to the ink cartridge replacement program, “HP Instant Ink”, that information is the cost to pay for the benefit (the program has really helped me saving a considerable sum of money). Regardless of the contracted plan, HP replaces the ink cartridges based of the real –not even the average– consumption that the user makes of them. In order to knowing this they obviously requires obtaining information from each impression that is made, among other data. Fortunately I only use this program for my children PC, being useful for his elementary school online classrooms and homeworks.

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Migongo, It’s good that sending some of the information requested by HP helps users of their printers save money when buying cartridges, but it looks to me that some of the information asked, about one’s computer, one’s location and several other things listed in the article I have cited and linked in my comment, are not necessary for establishing when and how often one needs new cartridges:

We collect product usage data such as pages printed, print mode, media used, ink or toner brand, file type printed (.pdf, .jpg, etc.), application used for printing (Word, Excel, Adobe Photoshop, etc.), file size, time stamp, and usage and status of other printer supplies.

We collect information about your computer, printer and/or device such as operating system, firmware, amount of memory, region, language, time zone, model number, first start date, age of device, device manufacture date, browser version, device manufacturer, connection port, warranty status, unique device identifiers …

The printer application already displays to the user, and could also send to HP, the amount of toner used, both tricolor and black, as well as when they need to be replaced. Shouldn’t that be sufficient to figure out at HP the amount and speed of consumption and, consequently, the rate and necessary number of replacements that correspond to the actual usage by the user? Why does it matter whether the toner has ben used for printing JPEG color pictures or PDF documents? After all, one is only asking for more cartridges to replace the used up ones once that becomes necessary (rather than at fixed, regular intervals, whether this is necessary or not), so why should one have, for that, to share with HP one’s life and miracles as well?

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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“HP data uploader.”

Never saw this one, but if the installation asked me, if I want to install it, I would definatelly deny such application on my home PC.

In our enterprise we use HP Device Connect application – it collects information, when cartridge level is low and it automatically orders a new one. Unfortunatelly I have no clue what it does on the background, but its much easier than ordering cartriges by myself.

Your data are safe, since HP claims this (taken from your post):

We do not scan or collect the content of any file or information that might be displayed by an application.

But what scares me is, that they collect

We collect information about your computer, printer and/or device such as operating system, firmware, amount of memory, region, language, time zone, model number, first start date, age of device, device manufacture date, browser version, device manufacturer, connection port, warranty status, unique device identifiers, advertising identifiers and additional technical information that varies by product.

Especially the bold information is sensitive and they should not do that. I think its very unethical and they should be disciplined for that.

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MrToad28, OscarCP

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perhaps that is why I always do a custom installation of HP printer drivers like for my family’s HP Envy Photo 7800 series. there are some options about sending info to HP that can be UN-checked so that this will not happen

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Did HP’s software ask you before installation of the data collector? Much if of this device data collection is not new and remind me of times when it gets installed without informed consent.

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I got a warning from my firewall+AV software, asking me if I wanted to install it or not. I did not choose, but had a look instead on the Web to see what that was for. So I passed on it.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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Good on you! (For everybody to check: HP has liked to add many scheduled tasks in the past, many have been set to an abnormal frequency to be active almost all day which was not useful to you.)

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OscarCP wrote:

The printer application already displays to the user, and could also send to HP, the amount of toner used, both tricolor and black, as well as when they need to be replaced.

Huh? My HP Deskjet 882 printer doesn’t do this. This printer is ancient but it still works via USB cable just fine. Ink is extremely expensive though so I haven’t bought tricolor cartridges in many years. I keep the last tricolor cartridge installed empty so the printer will function and just buy black cartridges.

Whenever I have to finally replace it, I will not buy one that uses tricolor cartridges as one color goes dry long before the other two but you then have to replace all of them (or just don’t use color ones).

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Mele20: The HP printer software does not display the information spontaneously, one has to launch the printer’ application first, for example when preparing to print, and choose (exactly how depends on the model) for it to show the status of the ink cartridges. This could be modified in the application, so when one starts printing and the ink is low, or the user enters the information: “Black cartridge dry”, for example, the software should be all set to rely to HP the request for a new Black cartridge for printer model such and such. And this should be all that needs to be communicated to HP, so it should be enough.

N.B. I do not use a wireless connection computer-printer, but a USB cable.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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This is an interesting thread.

Does anyone know whether the “HP data uploader” comes with the HP OfficeJetPro 9015 I bought last October and semi-installed … wait for it … on my old XP PC?

If so, what is the file name?

And what might happen if I change the file suffix from .exe to .old ?

When I set up the 9015, I tried very hard to install ONLY the “basic” or “enterprise” versions of the drivers, but that was a lot harder this time than 11 years ago when I got our (now dead) HP OJP 8500.  So I might have the full software installation sprayed around my PC anyway.

(I also installed it on my Win 10 Pro 64-bit PC, but that’s currently in a different LAN without connection to any printer.  But same Q – what is the file name for “HP data uploader”?)

BY THE WAY – on the new 9015, ALL FOUR INK CARTRIDGES expired on the same day about two months ago, and I replaced all four.  Is this a scam or what?

Thanks.

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glnz wrote:

ALL FOUR INK CARTRIDGES expired on the same day

AFAICT ink cartridges are all a scam. The ink costs more than its weight in gold. This is why the printer is very cheap, you make up for it in ink costs.

This is one of the reasons I use a colour laser printer.

cheers, Paul

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wavy, Cybertooth

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One problem with those inkjet cartridges is that, if they are not used often, they tend to dry up and become useless (there is a fix, involving some nasty chemical, but I can’t be bothered). And this can happen to both cartridges at the same time. It has happened to me. I do not use a printer very often, so on the one hand I can have, sometimes, this problem of drying up, on the other, I don’t buy those many anyways. So for me it is not an expensive thing, or one where I need to have a replacing service from HP. At a “Staples” near me they sell them.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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In my experience, printing a page with some color in it once a month helps keep the cartridges from drying out and also the print head from drying out from any residual ink that gets left on it. There is a print head cleaning utility on most Canon and Epson printers (don’t know about HP) but it uses a lot of ink. If a cartridge dries up just buy a new one, but if the print head can’t be cleaned you have to replace it which entails taking the printer apart – or buy a new printer.

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DrBonzo wrote:

In my experience, printing a page with some color in it once a month helps keep the cartridges from drying out and also the print head from drying out from any residual ink that gets left on it

My oldest hardware for my computers is my HP DeskJet 882C USB printer which is now 22 years old and still works fine. (Of course, it lost some functions when its software would not work after Windows 98SE). But it does the basic function of printing just fine if you can do without the bells and whistles from the obsolete software (and always use the same USB port).

I stopped using a color cartridge many years ago as replacing both cartridges costs close to $150! These cartridges are larger than those for newer HP printers so they last a long time but the color one is TRI color and the magenta goes quickly and cannot be replaced by itself which would be much cheaper. I don’t print that much so I’m ok with just printing with black ink. It refuses any cartridge that is NOT an HP one (about 10 years ago Officemax insisted their cartridge would work fine. It did not work at all).

I keep the tri color cartridge that has been empty for years now in its cradle as the printer will not work with just the black cartridge in its cradle.

I am not worried about this ancient printer collecting information about me and sending it to HP.

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SueW, DrBonzo

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Mele20: I have had four printers of diverse brands over some 23 years, not counting two that were outright lemons and lasted maybe a few months each. So, of the good ones, I got between 5 and 6 years of service from each one of them. So I am impressed that your old one is still going, not to mention you being able to still get cartridges for it.

I wish both you and your printer what the Chinese subjects used to wish their Emperors:

May you live ten thousand years!

DrBonzo’s advice, as usual, pretty much on point for the rest of us.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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DrBonzo

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Is there a printer that does respect user privacy?

Canon looks worse https://global.canon/en/privacy/apps.html

Thanks

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