How to tell if my Linux server has been infected by a mouse

Question

Hey HN,I recently purchased a cheap mouse online and used my desktop Linux server USB port to charge it. Is there any change the mouse was malevolent, and is there any way I can make sure it didn't introduce a virus into the system?Thanks!

mc3 · Accepted Answer

I guess it is possible, although most likely if they are putting malware on mice they are targeting Windows.(At first I thought it was a joke, alluding to Linux users love touch typing at 120WPM and hate using a mouse, so any mouse peripheral is an 'infection').

srcmap · Answer

I used to do the follow to learn more about linux system and how various sw components worked over long period of times on a personal server: 1) Create git repo, add all /usr/* /bin /sbin /etc to git. 2) Use utilities to monitor all TCP out going connections to see which apps were connecting to network. It was a fun exercise to see what components, config files were change over time.

benologist · Answer

I think mice could easily be used to infect hardware because my Razer mouse tries to install some crapware occasionally.I think I have only seen it in Windows but I don't know if that means linux cannot arbitrarily execute files hosted on a mouse, or if Razer skips the install because it has no compatible crapware.

perl4ever · Answer

I thought it was standard policy in any corporate IT security department these days to warn people not to plug in any personal device whatsoever with a usb plug, even, say, a fan or coffee warmer. Is it really possible for a usb device to be too small to contain a virus?

How to tell if my Linux server has been infected by a mouse

Hey HN,
I recently purchased a cheap mouse online and used my desktop Linux server USB port to charge it. Is there any change the mouse was malevolent, and is there any way I can make sure it didn't introduce a virus into the system?
Thanks!

I guess it is possible, although most likely if they are putting malware on mice they are targeting Windows.
(At first I thought it was a joke, alluding to Linux users love touch typing at 120WPM and hate using a mouse, so any mouse peripheral is an 'infection').

I thought it was standard policy in any corporate IT security department these days to warn people not to plug in any personal device whatsoever with a usb plug, even, say, a fan or coffee warmer. Is it really possible for a usb device to be too small to contain a virus?