Patch Tuesday, also known as Update Tuesday, is an unofficial term which refers to when Microsoft usually releases new security patches for its software. Usually, this update occurs on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.
On April 12, 2016, Microsoft released an optional update for Windows OSes which prevents wireless mice from getting jacked. According to IDG News Service, this exploit was revealed by Bastille Networks.
This vulnerability will allow a hacker to transmit commands (keystrokes) from up to 100 meters away. According to the report, the MouseJack vulnerability affects wireless mice and keyboards manufactured by different companies.
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However, in order to fix this vulnerability, Microsoft released an optional security update (KB3152550) which introduced a filter in order to make sure that a hacker wouldn’t be able to sneak into your system. The KB3152550 security update can be downloaded for Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.
Here are a few mice manufactured by Microsof affected by this vulnerability:
– Wireless Mobile Mouse 3000 v2.0;
– Wireless Mouse 5000;
– Wireless Mouse 2000;
– Wireless Mouse 5000;
– Arc Touch Mouse;
– Sculpt Ergonomic Mouse.
However, one of the researchers that found this vulnerability tweeted that the KB3152550 patch doesn’t completely fix the issue and that Microsoft will need to develop another new update.
Before that happens, we suggest you to install this optional update anyway, especially if you own a wireless mouse. It seems that developers are trying to find new ways to get access to victims’ computers and this is the reason why the security companies will need to do a lot of research in order to keep us safe.
Do you use a wireless mouse on your computer? Have you installed the optional KB3152550 update? Let us know in the comment section below!
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