mouse jiggler
{{Short description|Motion simulator device for a computer mouse}}
A mouse jiggler is software or hardware used to simulate or provide movement of a computer mouse.{{Cite web|last=Broida|first=Rick|title=How to keep your computer awake without touching the mouse|url=https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-keep-your-computer-awake-without-touching-the-mouse/|access-date=2021-02-09|website=CNET|language=en}}{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=22 May 2007|title=Gadget keeps Computer Screen awake|page=2|work=Detroit Free Press Newspaper|url=|access-date=}} In all cases, it prevents sleep mode, standby mode or the screensaver from activating. Mouse jigglers are also known as mouse movers.{{Cite web|last1=Broida|first1=Rick|last2=hassles|first2=PCWorld {{!}} About {{!}} Smart fixes for your PC|date=2010-08-23|title=Keep Your Computer 'Awake' with Mouse Jiggler|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/203917/Keep_Your_Computer_Awake_with_Mouse_Jiggler.html|access-date=2021-02-09|website=PCWorld|language=en}}
Software
Software driven mouse movers install a program on the user's machine that also moves the mouse cursor across the screen.{{Cite web|title=Get Move Mouse|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/move-mouse/9nq4ql59xlbf|access-date=2021-02-09|website=Microsoft Store|language=en-us}} The computer will generally be able to detect that it is installed and running.
Hardware
Hardware mouse jigglers come in two general categories: devices which plug into a computer (usually via a USB port) and register as a mouse, then provide digital signals which simulate mouse movement, and devices which do not attach to a computer, but interact with an existing mouse, either physically moving it around or providing falsified input to its sensors. The first category can generally be detected and identified by the computer. The second category is not able to be identified as a separate device by the computer, although extremely specialist software (or human monitoring) may be able to detect that the mouse is being moved in patterns (or randomly) which do not conform to expected human interactions with screen elements.
Recent demand for mouse jigglers is being driven by employers or line managers indirectly monitoring their employees who are remote workers as part of the productivity theater.{{Cite magazine |last=Christian |first=Alex |title=Bosses started spying on remote workers. Now they're fighting back |magazine=Wired | url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/work-from-home-surveillance-software | date=August 10, 2020 |issn=1357-0978}}