There are a lot of people out there using their computers without the intention that, their computers can be hacked by computer hackers –through their wireless mice.
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You can be using your computer without knowing that — your computer mouse can put your personal information at risk.
Why it is possible
According to a report by security firm Bastille, hackers could in theory take control of your computer through its wireless peripherals.
The hack, which the company calls MouseJack, affects nearly every wireless mouse and keyboard on the market and could give a hacker complete access to your personal computer or to the network at your office.
The hack isn’t exactly sophisticated either. According to Bastille, all a would-be hacker needs is about $15 worth of computer hardware, which he could then use to send commands from his computer to yours.
The hack works because while your wireless keyboard sends information in encrypted form to your computer’s wireless dongle (so hackers can’t see what you’re typing), your mouse doesn’t.
As a result, hackers can send signals designed to perform keyboard commands to your dongle. Those signals can then be used to hijack your system.
“Wireless mice and keyboards are the most common accessories for PCs today, and we have found a way to take over billions of them,” said Marc Newlin, Bastille’s engineer responsible for the MouseJack discovery, in a statement.
How to protect yourself
So how do you protect yourself?
Well, some wireless mouse and keyboard manufacturers developed their devices so they can be patched via firmware updates. Other companies’ offerings, however, can’t be updated and will simply have to be replaced.
Fortunately, Bastille has published a list of the impacted hardware, as well as information about how some peripherals companies have responded to the hack. You can find the list of affected mice on bastille.net.
It is important to also note that a wireless mouse is still vulnerable to attacks if the computer it is connected to is already compromised. If a hacker has gained access to your computer through other means, they may be able to use your mouse to control your computer remotely.
To prevent such attacks, it is important to keep your computer’s security software up-to-date, avoid connecting to unsecured wireless networks, and be cautious when downloading and opening attachments or clicking on links in emails. Additionally, using a wired mouse instead of a wireless one can also help reduce the risk of wireless attacks.
FAQs
Here I will answer some of the questions people usually ask concerning this topic. If you have any question that has not been answered here yet, kindly leave them in the comment box.
While it is highly unlikely, it is not impossible. Wireless mice use radio signals to communicate with the computer, but these signals are generally encrypted and have a limited range.
Besides, there is a number of mice listed by Bastille as one those mice that could be easily hacked.
To prevent such attacks, it’s important to keep your computer’s security software up-to-date, avoid connecting to unsecured wireless networks, and be cautious when downloading and opening attachments or clicking on links in emails. Additionally, using a wired mouse instead of a wireless one can also help reduce the risk of wireless attacks.
Yes, it is generally safe to use a wireless mouse. However, like any technology, it is important to take precautions to ensure your security.