New research shows some printers can be set on fire remotely

In a story reported by Yahoo! today, a team of researchers from Columbia University has been able to show that some pre-2009 HP LaserJet printers can be hacked remotely and set to overheat, potentially causing a meltdown or fire.  The team used the LaserJet's reliance on firmware updates and lack of proper security to hack into the printer and send the necessary commands that could cause it to overheat.

While this is a far-fetched circumstance, it could certainly happen.  Newer printers generally have better security measures, but printers can be hacked, and this story shows that in addition to the theft of sensitive data, actual physical damage can be caused remotely.