mouse pointer moves by itself

[avant12]

*

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Perhaps you could check out this topic:

http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,56953.0.html

[programming_pat]

how old is the optical mouse?

sometimes when hardware is starting to fail it does weird things.

i have personally never come accross a situation where a hacker makes the mouse move. they dont want you to know that they are doing it, so they don't make it obvious until it is too late,

as long as youhave anti-virus/anti-spyware & a firewall installed you will be fine

[Dias de verano]

I have seen my mouse pointer do this, it always goes horizontally, and it stops when I pick the mouse up. I haven't been hacked.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

^ It's actually new, so I don't think it's a hardware problem.

I sometimes have this problem when I accidentally touch the mouse pad with my hand.
Do you think you might be touching the mouse pad unintentionally (assuming this is a new laptop)?

Perhaps this could be the case?

I don't think random jolting of the mouse is a sign of you being hacked.

[cryhelp]

Try cleaning bottom of mouse, If you are using it on smooth surface, change that, unplug and replug.  If none of the suggestions you have so far work, we need your computer info.  See reply from Carbon Dudeoxide:  http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,56953.0.html

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Try cleaning bottom of mouse, If you are using it on smooth surface, change that.

That's a good point. This is partly the reason why we use mouse pads. If you are using a mouse on a shiny/reflective surface, you can expect some odd responses.

[Spoiler]

Read about this happening before. It had to do with the video drivers. I can't remember the fix off the top of my head. I will look into it.

For now would you list out the hardware you have in your system?

Thanks

[cryhelp]

Try this:Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Printers and other Hardware, and then click Mouse.
3. In the Mouse Properties dialog box, click the Device Settings tab.
4. Under Devices, select your touchpad, click Disable, and then click OK.
You may have a driver conflict and if so this should cure it.

[Eg0Death]

Could you be brushing the touchpad while typing?  Following the advice from cryhelp would also help if this is the case. 

[SuperDave]

If you're worried about being hacked, try disconnecting from the net and see if the cursor still moves.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

If you're worried about being hacked, try disconnecting from the net and see if the cursor still moves.

Now why didn't we think of that before.... Nice suggestion SuperDave 

[Eg0Death]

An errant mouse cursor is not indicative of being hacked.
Is your current mouse wired or wireless? 
Do you have another mouse you can use?  Try using a different mouse and see if the cursor still roams. 

[Dias de verano]

Thanks for all the help. I disabled the touch pad, it still occurs. I also tried disconnecting from the Internet, the cursor may have moved, but I'm not sure (same when I just used the touchpad). Do you really think it's possible that the computer's hacked?

It may or may not be hacked, but I don't think that's why the cursor moves.

[quaxo]

Actually, I have a mousepad, and it's not shiny/reflective..

Even a very slight gloss can make an optical mouse behave in the manner you describe. Try using something else and see if it still happens, like a piece of regular paper, PVC or vinyl mouse pad, or unpolished wood. The best surface for an optical mouse is a flat colored surface without any reflective properties at all. Believe it or not, some opticals work on surfaces that others don't. The mouse pad I am using now wouldn't work with my Logitech optical mouse (it would do what you're talking about), but it works fine with my Microsoft optical mouse.

If you have one, also try another mouse.

It may or may not be hacked, but I don't think that's why the cursor moves.

I agree. I very seriously doubt this is the issue.