Mouse cursor jumping around screen
Some users experience intermittent issues with their cursor jumping around their screen while using a mouse. Though the issue could be related to a bad mouse connection or possibly a software bug, often times the solution is much more simple.
Apple Support Discussions user my splitty is a... describes the issue:
"I regularly get a weird 'jump of the cursor' where all of a sudden it jumps to the edge of the screen. Does anyone else experience this and is it something that can be resolved? I'm working on a Mac Pro with a corded keyboard and mouse."
Possible fixes
As mentioned earlier, more often than not these symptoms are simple - generally a result of an environmental issue, rather than a bad peripheral device or software. The first thing to suspect is the surface you are using your mouse on. Optical mice can react abnormally on extremely reflective surfaces (such as high-gloss finishes or glass) or surfaces that contain very contrasty graphics (like a busy mousepad graphic). To determine if your issue is environmentally related, simply use a plain, solid-colored mouse pad and see if the issues continue.
Apple Support Discussions user Bruce Etnyre relays:
"I had the same problem using the Macs wired laser mouse on a freebie mousepad with the advertisers dark gray and white designs. I was so frustrated with the cursor jumping all over that I put the mouse on the wood desktop, and it stopped jumping."
Resources
Apple Support Discussions thread describing issues with the cursor jumping around the screen.
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Resources