Re: OT: Malware that causes insertion point to move randomly?
rhkramer@gmail.com wrote:
> On Saturday, on one of my computers, something was going on that caused my
> insertion point to move, quite often, in an incorrect manner.
>
> Often, on typing any letter, the insertion point would move behind the
> character I just typed (such that the next character typed would appear in
> front of the previous character). This might have occurred for 20 to 50% of
> the characters that I typed
> Less often (maybe 10% of the time that something went wrong (so maybe,
> overall, 2.5 to 5% of the characters that I typed) maybe less), the IP moved
> ahead 2 spaces so that a space would be skipped before the next character
> typed.
>
> Aside: The IP did stay in the same line I was typing (unless it was at the end
> or beginning of a line such that they "soft wrap" of the line would move it to
> the next or previous wrapped line).
Thanks for the clear problem description!
> * I use the same keyboard on two computers via a KVM so I switched to the
> other computer, the problem did not occur on the other computer.
>
> Aside: The irrelevant problem I mentioned is that quite some time ago (several
> years) I did something dumb while replacing a bad mouse (I didn't de-power)
> the KVM) and damaged the mouse "input" to the KVM such that I no longer can
> use a single mouse via the KVM, instead I have a separate mouse for each
> computer, the mouse for the problem computer is furthest away from the
> keyboard so it is impossible to accidentally make contact with it (and the
> mouse pad is on a stable surface).
It is now highly likely that the problem is in the KVM.
> * I switched back to the computer with the problem and the problem was
> still present.
>
> After some thought (and with crossed fingers), I rebooted that computer and the
> problem has not recurred since then.
... or in the connection between that computer and the KVM.
It is extremely unlikely to be malware.
-dsr-
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