Temporary changes to printing at UNBC

UNBC has made some temporary changes regarding how to print your own materials in order to maintain network security during this printing disruption.

New printing procedures

There are now two alternate solutions in place for printing. Although printing procedures have temporarily changed, scanning to email, copying and faxing functions are still operational through the Ricoh printer functionality.

If you are not able to print using one of these methods, please create an IT support ticket by emailing support@unbc.ca.

PaperCut Web Print

Please visit the Customer Support Portal for instructions on how to print using this method.

PRINTER Employee Desktop pool

  1. Download and run the VMWare Horizon Client. If you are using a Zero Client computer, please use the HTML access method to access this resource.
  2. Double click the 'desktop.unbc.ca' icon and log in using your UNBC network credentials.
  3. Double click the 'PRINTER Employee Desktop' icon.
  4. Follow the additional instructions below to print using this method.

How to set your default printer in Windows

How to map or add a printer in Windows

Printing disruption background

On August 11, 2021, Microsoft advised of a vulnerability in which the Windows Print Spooler service improperly performs privileged file operations. Someone choosing to exploit this vulnerability could run arbitrary code with system privileges. That person could then install programs, view, change, or delete data, or create new accounts with full user rights. Unfortunately, while Microsoft is working on the problem, there is no current fix. 

As of 4:30 p.m. on August 25, normal printing procedures no longer work at UNBC in order to maintain our network security.

Printing for the UNBC community through Copy and Print Services and is still in place.

ITS is working through solutions to ensure printing capabilities are available for the university community. As this is a worldwide scenario, UNBC is not alone in this decision to stop printing; other major institutions are also making this important security decision.

For the most up-to-date details on the status of this printing disruption, please visit the Customer Support Portal.