Privacy-Respecting Laser Printer - Does One Exist?

[shrinker09]

We have two computers running MX-Linux and we'd like to purchase a black & white laser jet printer for each of them. We'd be using a cable to connect them, so we won't be connecting over WiFi or bluetooth. Do they still make printers that don't require an internet connection, don't send data back to the printer company, and that also work well with MX-Linux?

It looks like Epson printers might be easier to install, and HP is probably out because of privacy. We had a Brother printer, but had to wipe MX and install Mint to get it to connect, and I really would prefer to use MX.

Here is the system info for one of the computers.

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 6.1.0-30-amd64 [6.1.124-1] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-30-amd64 root=UUID=<filter> ro quiet splash
  Desktop: Xfce v: 4.20.0 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.38 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm v: 4.20.0 vt: 7
    dm: LightDM v: 1.32.0 Distro: MX-23.5_x64 Libretto January 21  2024 base: Debian GNU/Linux 12
    (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Unknown System: System76 product: Ratel Ultra v: ratu1 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: Intel model: DH57JG v: AAE70930-304 serial: <superuser required> BIOS: Intel
    v: JGIBX10J.86A.0601.2010.1111.0048 date: 11/11/2010
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core i3 550 bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Westmere gen: core 1 level: v2
    built: 2010-11 process: Intel 32nm family: 6 model-id: 0x25 (37) stepping: 5 microcode: 0x7
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 2 tpc: 2 threads: 4 smt: enabled cache: L1: 128 KiB
    desc: d-2x32 KiB; i-2x32 KiB L2: 512 KiB desc: 2x256 KiB L3: 4 MiB desc: 1x4 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1303 high: 1399 min/max: 1199/3199 scaling: driver: acpi-cpufreq
    governor: ondemand cores: 1: 1399 2: 1280 3: 1244 4: 1290 bogomips: 25602
  Flags: ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: VMX disabled
  Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion; VMX: conditional cache flushes, SMT vulnerable
  Type: mds status: Vulnerable: Clear CPU buffers attempted, no microcode; SMT vulnerable
  Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Unknown: No mitigations
  Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed status: Not affected
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Retpolines; IBPB: conditional; IBRS_FW; STIBP: conditional; RSB
    filling; PBRSB-eIBRS: Not affected; BHI: Not affected
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Core Processor Integrated Graphics driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-5.75
    process: Intel 45nm built: 2010 ports: active: VGA-1 empty: DP-1, DP-2, HDMI-A-1, HDMI-A-2
    bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0042 class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 compositor: xfwm v: 4.20.0 driver: X: loaded: intel
    dri: crocus gpu: i915 display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1366x768 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 362x204mm (14.25x8.03") s-diag: 416mm (16.36")
  Monitor-1: VGA-1 mapped: VGA1 model: ELST3216H built: 2018 res: 1366x768 hz: 60 dpi: 25
    gamma: 1.2 size: 1366x768mm (53.78x30.24") diag: 801mm (31.5") ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 1366x768
    min: 720x400
  API: OpenGL v: 2.1 Mesa 22.3.6 renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics (ILK) direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 5 Series/3400 Series High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 8086:3b56 class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.1.0-30-amd64 status: kernel-api tools: alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.0 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Intel 82578DC Gigabit Network driver: e1000e v: kernel port: 1040 bus-ID: 00:19.0
    chip-ID: 8086:10f0 class-ID: 0200
  IF: eth0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 465.76 GiB used: 369.81 GiB (79.4%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 860 EVO 500GB size: 465.76 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 3.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 3B6Q
    scheme: MBR
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 465.76 GiB size: 457.38 GiB (98.20%) used: 369.81 GiB (80.9%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/sda1 maj-min: 8:1
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 15 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 3 GiB used: 10.2 MiB (0.3%) priority: -2 file: /swap/swap
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 47.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: pm: dpkg pkgs: 2401 libs: 1224 tools: apt,apt-get,aptitude,nala,synaptic pm: rpm
    pkgs: 0
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list
    1: deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg] https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    2: deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security bookworm-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
    1: deb http://mirrors.rit.edu/mxlinux/mx-packages/mx/repo/ bookworm main non-free
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/syncthing.list
    1: deb https://apt.syncthing.net/ syncthing stable
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vivaldi.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64] https://repo.vivaldi.com/stable/deb/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/extrepo_librewolf.sources
    1: deb [arch=amd64 arm64] https://repo.librewolf.net librewolf main
Info:
  Processes: 212 Uptime: 2d 19h 26m wakeups: 1 Memory: 7.56 GiB used: 2.02 GiB (26.7%)
  Init: SysVinit v: 3.06 runlevel: 5 default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0
  alt: 12 Client: shell wrapper v: 5.2.15-release inxi: 3.3.26
Boot Mode: BIOS (legacy, CSM, MBR)

[CharlesV]

I install quite a few printers on linux (All MX ), and I have found the following to be very good and easy to install:
Brother HL-L2340DW
Brother HL-L3210W
HP LaserJet Pro 4001DN
HP LaserJet M110w

For Inkjet
Epson EcoTank ET Series

As for privacy, the printer drivers typically are the issue and while I believe the information sent back is very minimal, if you have a good router you could block that data being sent. ( HP can / does send back data in Linux.. .not as much as it does in windows though!.)

Using your printer locally, and setting up your printer so that it cannot reach the internet would also help here.

Otherwise... you will need a *very* old HP or other older printer.

I just installed a used HP LasterJet pro 4001dn Laser printer that was purchased from B&H Photo for $150. The printer was warrantied and half the cost of new. The printer does not send data out / back to HP, and I was pretty impressed with it. (In fact, when my old HP 2000d goes, I will be buying this one or a color version.)

And just a side note... if your REALLY wanting to kill all data activity... you can set up a "local USB" printer to a Printer Sharing device, and the printer will not be able to send data out, but you can reach the printer from your network.

[j2mcgreg]

@shrinker09 wrote:

We have two computers running MX-Linux and we'd like to purchase a black & white laser jet printer for each of them. We'd be using a cable to connect them, so we won't be connecting over WiFi or bluetooth. Do they still make printers that don't require an internet connection, don't send data back to the printer company, and that also work well with MX-Linux?

Just set each one up locally with a USB connection. No access to the internet means no worries about telemetry. A USB connection with an HP also means that you won't get nagged about their Instant Ink nonsense.

[m_pav]

Brother hard to install? Have you had a look AT the downloadable brinstaller script package on the Brother drivers page? This driver was written by bitjam, one of our own Devs, so if you can't get a driver installed with that script using the very system it was written from, then you sir are lost beyond all chance of recovery.

To stop any info leakage from the OS, just add the site/sites you wish to block into your /etc/hosts file and they'll be inaccessible to your complete system.

[shrinker09]

Thank you!

I don't know why the Brother printer wouldn't install. I thought I got the driver from the Brother drivers page. With Mint, it was so easy -- I just plugged it in and it worked! And my husband doesn't care what OS he uses as long as he can watch his news and YouTube videos and print something once in a while, so he was fine using Mint. But then his printer broke, so I installed MX. I don't remember why I reinstalled his OS, but I know I didn't enjoy maintaining his Mint computer.