Wireless keyboards are fast becoming a household accessory for many households, as they are more practical than the wired keyboards especially for laptops. This device is smaller compared to a normal keyboard with less buttons on it.
Wireless keyboard devices work by sending out radio waves which are transmitted to another receiver connected to the computer or laptop using software drivers installed on it.
Wireless keyboards usually come with their own receivers that can be plugged into the USB port of your computer. After this connection is established, you’re good to go – no more messy wires!
However, just like other devices that have wireless capabilities, cybercriminals are looking at ways on how they can exploit this technology using computer virus to gain control of your business core systems.
Now, in recent years, more people using wireless keyboards have been asking if a wireless keyboard can get a virus? Can this malware infect my computer just because I use a wireless keyboard? Can someone hack into my wireless internet connection if am using a wireless keyboard?
In general, a wireless keyboard can get a virus. Wireless keyboards come with installable software drivers to make them communicate with your laptop or desktop computer. These wireless keyboard drivers are the weakest link between your core computer and exposure to external cybercriminal activities that threaten businesses daily.
While a virus infection on a wireless keyboard is rare, a virus can infect the wireless keyboard drivers and prevent it from working properly. When a virus infects a computer system, it interferes with application and/or computer hardware to create havoc and disruption.
One of the most severe problems that may occur while utilizing a wireless keyboard is a faulty keyboard. This means the wireless keyboard isn’t working properly. There’s a consensus that the problem with the computer hardware is unrelated to virus infection in the first place.
It’s important to keep in mind, though, that while virus attacks are most commonly linked with loss of data as well as memory and storage difficulties, they may also create issues with computer hardware like wireless keyboards.
Instead of attacking the computer’s hardware, viruses harm the driver software that has been installed into the machine, causing it to malfunction.
When a virus attack compromises a wireless keyboard, errors such as being unable to type, changing languages without authorization, changing backlit keyboard lights and entering characters different than those pressed by the user may occur.
Symptoms of a computer virus infection wireless keyboard
There are glaring signs that you should be on the look out for when using wireless keyboards. They include:
– Wireless keyboards that become disconnected from the computer;
– Slow keyboard response time, which results in you having to tap on some keys multiple times before they get entered into your system;
– Keyboard error messages like ‘keyboard not found’ and others.
If such problems arise when using wireless keyboards with a desktop or laptop computer, it’s wise to seek assistance from a qualified technician immediately. If left unattended, they have the potential of shutting down all file input/output activities in your machine leading to complete data loss.
In conjunction with a faulty wireless keyboard, another issue that may arise is a malfunctioning mouse. This often comes as an unpleasant surprise since most people would assume the mouse being faulty before noticing any problems with the keyboard. This simply means that you should not self-assess your peripherals for problems by utilizing just one at a time.
One other concern is that if your wireless keyboard comes with its own USB receiver, then this can also be utilized as an entry point into your computer’s network wiring system. Cybercriminals may use the USB port to gain access to your computer and wreak havoc when the keyboard is plugged in.
In cases when you use a wireless keyboard, there’s always a possibility that it can get a virus. It is, however, not common since most viruses target programs on your computer rather than peripheral devices like keyboards.
If you’re infected with a virus on your wireless keyboard, you’re more likely to experience slow response times, unexpected character entries including the ‘@’ symbol, and other problems. Fortunately, these are all relatively easy to fix.
The best way of preventing a virus infection on your wireless keyboard is by keeping up-to-date with regular security updates for both operating systems.
If you have a virus on your laptop, it may be preventing your wireless keyboard from working. Symptoms may include:
– Can’t connect to your wireless network even though you can see it on another device.
– Can’t save documents that you’re working on because the virus is disabling your ability to open or save files as needed.
– Can’t print some of the documents that you need to because the virus has disabled printing capabilities too.
– Can’t access web pages on an infected laptop because the browser keeps redirecting you and isn’t loading sites correctly either.
The above symptoms appear when a wireless keyboard gets a virus and other computer problems; for example; we cannot type, change of default computer languages without authorization, and enter characters different than those pressed by us while using a wireless keyboard with our laptops.
Deactivated anti-virus software; sluggish startup; bogus virus alerts; being blocked from anti-virus websites; affected applications; system failure; hardware; accessory problems; error messages; sending strange messages regularly; deactivated security solution; hard disk drive failure; pop-ups; crashes; and your computer slowing down…
Virus removal solutions for wireless keyboards
Priority one should be given to the usage of an antivirus and anti-malware program. Make a copy of everything on your computer, and then keep a backup of that copy. If you are the victim of a computer virus attack, it will keep your data from being destroyed. Another great tool for keeping your system safe is a firewall.
Do you have the feeling that a virus has infected your laptop? These are some of the methods you may use to clean your computer of viruses.
Avoid downloading the wireless keyboard driver again, however, restarting your laptop will immediately fix any issues that may have arisen due to a bad driver.
Then, restart your computer in “safe mode” and see whether you’re able to use your laptop properly after that.
Try running an anti-virus scan and see whether it resolves the issue. If not, contact the customer care team at your laptop software supplier to see if they can help.
You should also use safe mode to create a backup of all of your temporary files before you begin working again.
When you have anti-Malware scanning software installed on your computer, it can help you look for new threats by scanning for them.
You can also try to run Windows Defender offline using System Restore.
The following steps will troubleshoot your USB wireless keyboard:
Make sure all wireless software drivers are updated.
Keeping software drivers up to date is the best way of preventing compatibility issues.
Press Windows key + R to open the run command box. In it, type “devmgmt.msc” and hit enter to launch Device Manager.
In device manager, expand Keyboards by clicking on the arrow next to it.
Right click on the name of your wireless keyboard under keyboards and choose uninstall from the menu that appears. Uninstall any devices you don’t recognize as well as anything that has a yellow exclamation point or red X next to it.
If those options aren’t available for you, don’t worry about them as they are most likely not essential drivers for your computer’s functioning either way.
Click Action at the top of Device Manager and select Scan for hardware changes from the drop-down menu. Let it do its thing.
Once Device Manager has finished doing what you asked it to do, reboot your computer and attempt to use the wireless keyboard again. If it doesn’t work, keep reading so we can try a few more things.
If you have tried all of the above suggestions but are still having trouble with your USB wireless keyboard, you may want to consider reinstalling or updating your operating system’s drivers as well as trying a new USB wireless keyboard entirely.
A reinstallation is also an option if none of these tips were helpful for you. This typically isn’t recommended unless you are dealing with persistent compatibility issues that continue after replacing the driver software on your computer or after upgrading Windows 10.
If having multiple issues with your wireless keyboard, I would suggest using a wired one instead.
There is a slew of options available.
Restart your computer to have changes take effect.
Reinstall the driver software if updating was ineffective.
In Device Manager, make sure your wireless keyboard is not disabled by clicking Action at the top of Device Manager and choosing Scan for hardware changes from the drop down menu. If it is disabled, right click on it and choose enable from the menu that appears.
Reboot your computer to implement these changes.
Try a different USB port, as well as another compatible keyboard entirely if this one isn’t working out for you or if you have tried all other suggestions above.
If none of those options are available to you, try reinstalling Windows 10 to see if it can resolve any remaining issues with your operating system’s functionability. If no problems exist with other devices or if all of the above suggestions were unsuccessful, you may need to consider repair or replacement.
If you have tried all of the above suggestions but are still having trouble with your USB wireless keyboard, you may want to consider reinstalling or updating your operating system’s drivers as well as trying a new USB wireless keyboard entirely.
A reinstallation is also an option if none of these tips were helpful for you. This typically isn’t recommended unless you are dealing with persistent compatibility issues that continue after replacing the driver software on your computer or after upgrading Windows 10.
There is a slew of options available depending on what keyboards and/or devices you currently own.
To begin troubleshooting, one must first determine the source of the issue. To restart your Windows 10 machine, go to the Start menu, click Power, and thereafter Restart.
If you’re in “Safe Mode,” you’re safe from danger.
After the laptop has rebooted in Windows 8 or Windows 10, press the F8 key to enter “Safe Mode.” To cure the wireless keyboard virus, start your computer in “Safe Mode” by using the F4 key.
The computer’s network, as well as services, will be accessible for internet connection with the absolute minimal set of drivers and services, ensuring efficient operation. Then press the F5 key on your keyboard to put your computer into “Safe Mode with Networking.”
Restarting the machine in safe mode will bring up a command prompt window instead of the Windows interface, allowing you to boot into a command prompt instead of Windows. After completing this process, reboot your computer or laptop and sign in with the proper password and username to exit “Safe Mode.”
If the issue continues, this individual will have to consult with an IT professional. Viruses may cause malfunctions in software or hardware, which necessitates a professional solution if they are to be fully removed.
This is a crucial cure for wireless keyboard failures, so let’s look at it now. It’s up to the user to figure out whether the issue is with the wireless keyboard driver or the actual wireless keyboard. If the issue is caused by a flaw in the wireless keyboard driver software, try reinstalling the driver and restarting your computer.
Try starting the system in “safe mode” and checking whether the wireless keyboard works or not. If that doesn’t work, try reinstalling the software and reboot. Since the virus attack has already started, installing good anti-virus software while keeping your computer in safe mode is a must.
Conclusion
The computer viruses that have infiltrated your computer system may have some effects on your wireless keyboard, even if they don’t directly infect it. As a result, protecting your computer against viruses is essential at all times. Try backing up your files and reconfiguring your machine if none of the other methods work.