Can a Wireless Mouse Have a Virus?

[paulyjames]

I recently purchased a wireless mouse online. However, the mouse is coming from a 3rd party. such as imagine buying it from ebay or amazon with 3rd party

Im now wondering... is there a chance a wireless mouse could possibly have virus? Because im wondering if i should order the mouse again on best buy or through amazon if they have it in stock? Or is this something that one should not worry about.

 

[paulyjames]

Also on a related question. Let say the mouse you bought was new but it was actually refurbished. Or let say you bought a refurbished mouse. If you did, wouldn't that mean there is a possible chance the mouse could infect your computer etc? Or if the mouse came shipped to you but it came without the box as in original packaging. Would you say its best to not use that mouse for security reasons etc?


Well i googled and read about mousejack. So are you sure not 100 percent?

 

[mitchell65]

Why bother with a second hand wireless mouse when a new one is so cheap nowadays?

 

[RoasterMen]

^My thoughts exactly. Who knows how bad the condition of a used mice is.

 

[mrjimphelps]

...or how many germs are on it?

 

[mrjimphelps]

I recently purchased a wireless mouse online. However, the mouse is coming from a 3rd party. such as imagine buying it from ebay or amazon with 3rd party

Im now wondering... is there a chance a wireless mouse could possibly have virus? Because im wondering if i should order the mouse again on best buy or through amazon if they have it in stock? Or is this something that one should not worry about.

The danger with a wireless mouse lies in the fact that it is wireless; that is, the wireless signal might possibly be hacked, giving the hacker a way into the computer.

If it is a Bluetooth mouse, then you are helped somewhat by the limited range of Bluetooth devices; the hacker would have to be really close to the computer to be able to hack his way in via Bluetooth.

On the other hand, Bluetooth is typically less secure than wifi, so it can be an easier target to hack.

 

[strollin]

Let's not confuse a wireless mouse/keyboard with wifi. They are similar but different with completely different uses.

A wireless mouse is extremely easy to hack since there is no security whatsoever, any wireless device can connect with no user intervention. Bluetooth has security in that each device must be paired before it can connect. It's not possible for a new Bluetooth device to connect without the user's knowledge and approval.

Wireless and Bluetooth mice have about the same range so a hacker trying to hack into either would need to be in close proximity.

 

[mrjimphelps]

Security flaws put billions of Bluetooth phones, devices at risk:
http://www.zdnet.com/article/blueto...borne-iphone-android-windows-devices-at-risk/

 

[strollin]

Security flaws put billions of Bluetooth phones, devices at risk:
http://www.zdnet.com/article/blueto...borne-iphone-android-windows-devices-at-risk/

Yet Bluetooth devices are more secure than wireless mouse/keyboard dongles!

 

[mitchell65]

To answer the original question

Let say the mouse you bought was new but it was actually refurbished.(It can't be both new and refurbished) Or let say you bought a refurbished mouse. If you did, wouldn't that mean there is a possible chance the mouse could infect your computer etc? Or if the mouse came shipped to you but it came without the box as in original packaging. Would you say its best to not use that mouse for security reasons etc?

I wouldn't touch it with someone elses bargepole!

 

[Megahertz07]

Wireless keyboard / Mouse receivers has about 3m (10') range. Some one to use the receiver to hack in should be that close.
Nowadays everything is be possible, but I think that the chances are minimal, so I would use it.

Another thing is if it came with a installation software. Don't run it, as it could be with a back door. Let windows find the drivers or go to the manufacture site and download from there.

 

[Mellon Head]

I thought this idea was crazy at first and just paranoia, but is seems the mouse-jacking is a serious thing. They even make a product to combat it:

MOUSEJACK - Wireless Mouse Hacks Network Security Protection | Mousejack

Note that it only affects wireless mice, and not the Bluetooth variety.

Good thing I don't believe in wireless anything.