IP program

[jusefd]

well hi guys, i have a problem, you see, i'm making a special program in c++, i want to make broadcast IP program to an email so if computer is stolen you can retrieve location via IP, my friend is studying Network so he will do the net trick
but i have a problem, we are going to try to scan IP in batch by opening it via c++ but i have no idea how, so basicly its just, how can i open a program in c++, not read it, but really open it activate it, and what library file do i need? that is all, thanks for reading

[sicarie]

Why not just use the API of the OS to get the IP? That would save you attempting to interface with this program (whose API you'd probably need to learn)...

[jusefd]

because i dont know what API is yet

[sicarie]

because i dont know what API is yet

And yet you want to use the program's API... You know it, you just don't know that you know it.

Google Search of API .

I believe it will be easier and more useful of your time to use the WIn32 API instead of the program's API, but this choice is ultimately yours.

[jusefd]

And yet you want to use the program's API... You know it, you just don't know that you know it.

you mean like those things that are used to compile games? like direct X?

[oler1s]

you mean like those things that are used to compile games? like direct X?

Compile? APIs don't compile anything. Technically, they aren't even compilable (if they are an API to a library, the library may be compilable, but not the API itself).

DirectX is actually a collection of APIs (and some more). If you want to grab the current IP, use the Windows API to do so. With the API, you can query Windows for whatever the current IP is and then work with that information directly in your program.

Using a batch file, which no doubt contains a call to ipconfig, and then reading the output is inefficient and probably not a good idea in something security related like yours.

[jusefd]

hmm so, is it even possible to create such a device?

[sicarie]

hmm so, is it even possible to create such a device?

By that comment, I can see you didn't even bother clicking through a few of the links that the Google search I posted came back with. Please do some research before blindly posting.

As well, I'd like to take this moment - before you've reached the design stage - to point out that you would really need more than an IP to figure out where your laptop is once it's stolen, as IP usually (and it's possible to get around that as well) only returns a very general location. I'd recommend creating and installing your own program on the system to capture *everything* and upload that to an email address you control. Though you'd have to be very careful with that and make sure all that communication is encrypted so if the email account is compromised they don't have your private information. Or just deleted it on a regular basis... Anyway, that way you'd have any info about that person they entered into your laptop - certainly more to go on than an IP address.

[jusefd]

hmm, well i could put a friendly keylogger on my pc and send it to that email... so his name would be (hopefully) reveiled, but i tought you could trace someone's adress by knowing his IP and his ISP?

[Banfa]

No a computers IP address only gives its address on the local network.

If that computer is behind a router then it will not help. The routers external IP address will give the routers address on ISPs network but the computer will have an local enternet address which will only give it the address on the network including the computer in router (its internal IP address) and any other computers on the network.

There are lots of things in any network connection what change the address of the destination meaning that knowing the local address of the destination is basically of little or no use.

Try reading up on Network Address Translation (NAT)

[JosAH]

I was thinking of a simple Kensington lock ...

kind regards,

Jos

[sicarie]

I was thinking of a simple Kensington lock ...

kind regards,

Jos

Good call there, as well as BIOS Password and HD encryption. Make it so your device is not worth their time to take.

And then don't leave it laying out.

[jusefd]

bios password can be cracked :D and if you ever want to see your laptop again?
PS, give me a metalscissors and ill break thru kensington

[sicarie]

bios password can be cracked :D and if you ever want to see your laptop again?
PS, give me a metalscissors and ill break thru kensington

And then that's what the HD encryption is for. Sure, all of that can be bypassed, the question is: is it worth it to the person who stole it. Besides, if anyone takes it do you really think you'll ever see it again? (spare parts anyone?)

First thing I would do if I stole one would be to look at the HD using a recovery tool, see if I can find interesting stuff, and then re-image it, which would wipe out your IP program without it ever being triggered.

[edwardrsmith]

For laptop security the only way to truly keep it safe is by being careful. If it is stolen, a program to track it is pointless, as anyone who could actually log onto your account is likely to know better ways of getting at your information (such as a live cd or booting off of a usb stick).

Encrypting your hard drive does keep your information safe but does not stop someone from simply re-formatting your hard drive (and poor encryption can be broken).

The only way of truly tracking your laptop would be to get a piece of hardware that goes in it and sends packets over any network which it is connected to. This could take the form of a hardware key-stroke logger or could even have a gps.

Even that has problems, for instance, unless it is built into the base hardware of the computer/designed very carefully because it cannot rely on a driver or it will become inoperable when the OS is re-installed.

Overall, the best method for laptop security is good encryption to protect your information and a watchful eye to keep it from getting stolen in the first place.

Edward