QuietPrint: Protecting 3D Printers Against Acoustic Side-Channel Attacks
For 3D printer users and manufacturers, this work addresses the growing threat of IP theft via side channels with a practical, low-cost solution.
The paper investigates acoustic side-channel attacks on 3D printers for IP theft and proposes a novel, hardware-free protection method that modifies G-code to prevent such attacks.
The 3D printing market has experienced significant growth in recent years, with an estimated revenue of 15 billion USD for 2025. Cyber-attacks targeting the 3D printing process whether through the machine itself, the supply chain, or the fabricated components are becoming increasingly common. One major concern is intellectual property (IP) theft, where a malicious attacker gains access to the design file. One method for carrying out such theft is through side-channel attacks. In this work, we investigate the possibility of IP theft via acoustic side channels and propose a novel method to protect 3D printers against such attacks. The primary advantage of our approach is that it requires no additional hardware, such as large speakers or noise-canceling devices. Instead, it secures printed parts by minimal modifications to the G-code.