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4851
Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Wireless sensor
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 18, 2010, 10:12 AM »
However, it doesn't seem to work - I'm wondering, with a Domain Controller doesn't a network connection have to be established before logon, whereas with a normal LAN network the connection is established after logon?

[Sorry if I get a bit Captain Obvious here, I'm just trying to make sure we're on the same page]

Um... If you're driving at the distinction between a Workgroup and Domain networks ...Then yes...Sort of. In a workgroup environment you initially authenticate to local machine, and then to network resources later if/when you access them. In a domain you're authenticated by the domain controller before you access anything, including local machine. There are exceptions for cached credentials/domain accounts...But those aren't important right now.

The key here is to look for a media connection first, then "verify" it by testing for an IP connection. So the program should continue looping through the adapter iteration until it finds one with a default gateway that isn't 0.0.0.0. Then and only then it should do the (IP to MAC Address) ARP lookup to verify that the IP network is "live" making it a relatively safe assumption that (the hounds can be released) a domain controller is then available.


Have to do some debug output to see if the arp command is actually being called that early.

We use domain/machine names, the OS uses IP addresses, and the hardware uses MAC addresses. Nothing leaves the box without the MAC address of its (first hop) destination being known. So as long as some/any communication attempt has been made with the default gateway the MAC address will be known ... Shit...

(Does anybody else see the hole in this theory?)...

Hint: Gateway connection isn't really required or guaranteed at this stage, hence the ARP test could fail even with a valid connection because no traffic has as of yet been sent to the gateway. SendARP(...) is a local machine query of the ARP cache, not an on-the-wire query for remote data.

...Which makes me an idiot. :wallbash: Sorry... :-[  ...Ping would (/will have to) be the correct answer as a last stage validation of IP connectivity. Just don't start with it in/as the initial loop timeouts are a nightmare.
4852
Yahoo!
4853
Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Wireless sensor
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 17, 2010, 10:25 PM »
2) Displays a Tooltip on the logon screen with network status - I can't test whether it has connected since it doesn't connect until I've logged on here, (just a LAN network).

I could be missing something, but couldn't you just start the comp with the network cable unpluged, then plug it in to see the status change? The media connection state change is (basically) the same wired vs. WiFi.

The only thing left is trying to get the SysTray icon to turn on - maybe I need to put a delay in between detection of explorer.exe and turning it on?  Ideas anyone?

The following snippet is from T-Clock, it checks for a valid system tray/clock window handle before the hook is inserted. A stripped down version should be just what you're after:
Code: C++ [Select]
  1. // find the clock window
  2.   hwndChild = GetWindow(hwndBar, GW_CHILD);
  3.   while(hwndChild) {
  4.                 GetClassName(hwndChild, classname, 80);
  5.                 if(lstrcmpi(classname, "TrayNotifyWnd") == 0) {
  6.                    hwndChild = GetWindow(hwndChild, GW_CHILD);
  7.                    while(hwndChild) {
  8.                                  GetClassName(hwndChild, classname, 80);
  9.                                  if(lstrcmpi(classname, "TrayClockWClass") == 0) {
  10.                                         SendMessage(hwndChild, WM_NULL, 0, 0);
  11.                                         break;
  12.                                  }
  13.                    } break;
  14.                 }
  15.          hwndChild = GetWindow(hwndChild, GW_HWNDNEXT);
  16.   }

Actually this might be the shorter way you need:
Code: C++ [Select]
  1. // refresh the taskbar
  2.   hwnd = FindWindow("Shell_TrayWnd", NULL);
  3.   if(hwnd) {
  4.          PostMessage(hwnd, WM_SIZE, SIZE_RESTORED, 0);
  5.          InvalidateRect(hwnd, NULL, TRUE);
  6.   }

...If tray handle is valid, you're gold.


Just had a thought, I couldn't find anywhere after a quick search, what is set as the default directory when you run something from Group Policy Startup?  The directory where the executable is or something else?

Something tells me I should know that...  :-[ ...Just use full path in script as it tends to be safer anyhow.

EDIT2: Argh!  The Tooltip doesn't come back when you log off  :wallbash:

Relaunch with logoff script?

Actually, after the machine has been logged on and then off, you really don't need a status indicator...If the users are told not to try logging in when the logon-not-available light is lit.
4854
Living Room / Re: Show us the View Outside Your Window
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 17, 2010, 01:01 PM »
Cool effects ... How'd you do that?
4855
Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Wireless sensor
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 17, 2010, 07:02 AM »
Joker, I am not sure what your template is like but am willing to give it a whirl.

The template is just the source code for a roll-your-own Windows System Service. The compiled version in the download just beeps every X seconds (which isn't really useful in and of itself). But (it's a demo) the included source code is a complete (self installing & uninstalling) Windows service framework which is well commented to make it easy to modify for other purposes. Just replace the beep code and variables with the work & values needed, compile, and you're done.

* Windows Service Template.rar (78.99 kB - downloaded 525 times.)

@4wd - IIRC, all the service will need is the interact with desktop right which is configurable (if need be) in Services.msc
4856
Finished Programs / Re: The Mouser Utility - Requested by App103
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 16, 2010, 03:00 PM »
Either that or if the user hovers over the context menu more than X seconds, it goes inactive, detaches and drifts (away) off the screen.
4857
Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Wireless sensor
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 16, 2010, 02:53 PM »
I may not be following you SJ, but what I need is something that the student can see on the laptop.

Understood, I was speaking more to the how than the what. Actually it should be a service that flags the user that the connection is active and then shut itself down to avoid unnecessary resource usage. <But I'm wandering off my own point>

Here is the thing, with network utilities the tempting easy out it to shoot for (/with) ping, but... It ain't actually that easy. If you use the default MS .dll based ping the fastest you can reliably recover between pings (to a dead connection) is about 30 seconds. If you want really fast ping recovery times (like 5 sec or less) you will need to use raw socket ICMP so you can customize the socket to respond (live/die/connect/close) quickly.

This is why I am/was suggesting a way around that using a method of monitoring the LM adapter for a default gateway of something other than blank or 0.0.0.0 and then verifying that it is up/active with an ARP test. These can both be done very fast without causing other issues like hung sockets, desktop handle (leaks/) exaustion, or logs full of half open socket errors.

It would also make it possible to be used universally as the target would not need to be hard coded using this method as it is just iterating through the local adapters looking for one with an active gateway. Then it gives the go-ahead and shuts down.

Honestly I wish I had time to jump in on this - I love doing this kind of stuff. I've got a working Windows Service template project in C++ for MSVS2k5 ... If it'll help let me know I'd be happy to post it when I get home. Hell its even includes self install & uninstall functions iirc.
4858
Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Wireless sensor
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 16, 2010, 08:30 AM »
not sure what your little program means but one school has about 60 laptops that this would need to be done with.

It's just a snippet of code for doing an APR check on/for a given IP address. I thought it might help skwire if he was inclined to go that route for the app. SendARP(...) is a standard call but it was incredibly hard to find back when I went looking for a method of getting MAC addresses for Page Countster.
4859
Post New Requests Here / Re: IDEA: Wireless sensor
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 16, 2010, 07:31 AM »
Pinging might get blocked by an over zealous firewall. But if the adapters were scanned for a DGW, the DGW could then be ARP'ed. If the ARP call came back with a valid result connected = true.

Firewalls won't affect ARP, and nothing needs to be hardcodded so it'll work anywhere.


Here's a ARP call/test in C++ It took me weeks to figure this out (because everything I Googled said it couldn't be done):
Code: C++ [Select]
  1. //======================================================================================================
  2. //======================================================================== Hay MAC, WTFs Your Address...?
  3. bool GetMACAddress(char *szIPAddr, char *szMAC) { //=====================================================
  4.     ULONG   DestMAC[2],ulLen = 6;
  5.         LPBYTE  lpBuff;
  6.  
  7.   memset(DestMAC, 0xff, sizeof (DestMAC));
  8.   if(SendARP(inet_addr(szIPAddr), 0, DestMAC, &ulLen) == NO_ERROR) {
  9.           lpBuff = (LPBYTE)DestMAC; // Now Convert - Address to a String.
  10.          StringCbPrintf(szMAC, GEN_BUFF, "%02X:%02X:%02X:%02X:%02X:%02X",
  11.                                         lpBuff[0], lpBuff[1], lpBuff[2], lpBuff[3], lpBuff[4], lpBuff[5]);
  12.    return TRUE;
  13.   }
  14.   // <-- IF False, Then the Target is on a Different Subnet and is therefore out of (ARP Required)
  15.   StringCbCopy(szMAC, GEN_BUFF, "Not in ARP Table"); // <------------- Broadcast Range ... Say So!
  16.   // <------------------------- Note: This Was Added as Part of Build 88 to v1.0.0 <--++++---<<<<<
  17.  return FALSE;
  18. }
4860
Finished Programs / Re: The Mouser Utility - Requested by App103
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 15, 2010, 06:55 PM »
I may expand on this project and have it do something interesting in the future...

How about something like Esheep, but with a cat that roams around the desktop totally ignoring the user?
4861
Finished Programs / Re: The Mouser Utility - Requested by App103
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 15, 2010, 06:49 PM »
Could it be modded to answer to the name 'Peggy' by any chance?  ;)

...It's happy time...

I can never decide if I should laugh or cringe when I see those commercials.
4862
Finished Programs / Re: IDEA. Create folder icon within folders INI
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 15, 2010, 07:11 AM »
Windows XP also provides a way to do this natively.  You can right-click the folder, choose Properties and use the Customize tab.

Along those lines if you put a folder.jpg file (usually a hidden file) in any folder it will show that pic on the folder in explorer (tile view works best for this). I used to do this in my music folder so the folders showed the album covers for quicker browsing. This still works in Vista/7 but not as well (but I still do it).
4863
Living Room / Re: Can we compare file transfer protocols?
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 15, 2010, 06:55 AM »
My ideal goal, once again, is to somehow have a drive or folder that I can access from ANYWHERE as a drive or folder.
An FTP server can be added (as a location) to Network Places and it just appears/acts like a normal folder. This has been an option in windows since the 9x days. Mind you it's not always real smooth, but it seems awful close to what you're after (hit remote folder X from anywhere).

In XP and below it appears as the Add Network Place menu option. - I'm not sure about Vista - In 7 it appears as a "Connect to a Web site..." link at the bottom of the Map Network Drive dialog.
4864
Living Room / Re: I wish I'd had this when I was learning physics
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 14, 2010, 09:26 AM »
Sounds like some fun reading, thanks.
4865
Living Room / Re: DDOS Ethics
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 13, 2010, 06:12 PM »
Gotta fix the quote tags on that last one man, I'm gonna have a hell of a time trying to stitch this back together.

These aren't drunken ramblings, they are talks between colleagues in order to spread opinions and snap analyses, and weren't spread publicly.
-wraith808

It's an analogy, not a direct reference. The point being if you don't want to risk being quoted on something, don't say it.

In the interest of full disclosure all internal correspondence are to be stored for a period of time just in case they need to be reviewed by a committee of unknown people. So, tossing derogatory comments about foreign dignitaries around (which was "the rub" according to the main stream news reports) in that atmosphere is really pretty dumb ... As there is no actual expectation-of-privacy.

I understand the incorrect analogy (;)), it's just that it's incorrect.

Just because you missed the connection doesn't mean it's not there. :)

Drunken ramblings tend to be a bit too honest (tactless) - Which the commentary was (according to the story). And they tend to be a bit too sure of their surroundings (as in the-walls-have-ears) - Expectation of privacy being a foolish notion with certain types of information. Like the type of information that may, at some time, need to be read aloud in some committee hearing. Solely because it was available-to-be-read because it was stored electronically, according to policy, for a small eternity.

Never make a record of something that you can't destroy if the situation calls for it.

Now back in the Good Ol' Days, before idiots were allowed to use computers, any truly sensitive information dealing with a confidential source that was written down used a code name for the purpose of protecting said sources identity (Like Deep-Throat from Watergate - What was his real name?) ... Just in case it got found or confiscated.

The secrets game is just that, a game. And a damn dangerous one at that. It's not a bunch of frumpy old women at a coffee clutch who have to state their sources to lend credence to their tales of gossip. Once you decide to be a source you become a commodity pawn in a large game where you could easily be traded for another more tantalizing piece of information. Or you could just trust the wrong person who doesn't handle your identity in an appropriate fashion and blabs in an indiscreet manner. There is no guarantee of privacy on a corporate network. There are measures in place, there are policies, there are all the best of intentions ... But There Are NO Guarantees.


Now as far as what if anything was gained from said leakage... I've not a clue. It could be nothing, it could be the staff in DC learn that loose lips sink ships in glass houses.



@40Hz - Love the cartoon!
4866
Living Room / Re: Crime pays - and our governments love it.
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 13, 2010, 03:07 PM »
More disturbing IMO is the list of whom received money from the financial bail out - like McDonald's, Harley Davidson, Verizon, GE...

Harley Davidson isn't disturbing, it's an American institution (right up there with Chevy, Ford, & Smith & Wesson) - Now if Yamaha got bail out money that would be disturbing.  ;)
4867
Found Deals and Discounts / Re: The BitsDuJour Bundle
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 13, 2010, 11:34 AM »
The Screen Calipers are extreemly handy for all sorts of design stuff. I've been using them for years.
4868
Living Room / Re: Crime pays - and our governments love it.
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 13, 2010, 06:46 AM »
Are there any lip readers that can tell us what was being whispered in her ear during that tap dance?
4869
Living Room / Re: DDOS Ethics
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 12, 2010, 03:20 PM »
I also wouldn't be surprised if several of the principles involved eventually wound up: being arrested and convicted on some serious but unrelated criminal charge; overdosing on drugs or alcohol; committing suicide; or running their cars off deserted roads with no witnesses should they continue to embarass national governments after this.

History is rather full of strange (but timely for some) accidents isn't it.
4870
Living Room / Re: DDOS Ethics
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 12, 2010, 12:58 PM »
But in these cases, the information is of questionable use, while causing real concern about diplomatic ties and future effectiveness.  I think it's pretty dangerous, personally.

Really? Why? Because some self important blow hard got caught popping off in an internal memo about a foreign dignitary? How about in the interest of professionalism (which isn't too much to expect given what they're paid...) they just kept the snide comments to themselves instead of documenting them on government servers where they're supposed to be archived forever?

It is absolutely no different then two IT pros leaving a location and (after accidentally butt-dialing said client) running the client into the ground. End result? somebody looses a client, and/or gets fired. Quite simple really, don't say anything that you're not willing to stand behind.

...This is the core premise behind why drunken ramblings are bad.

These aren't drunken ramblings, they are talks between colleagues in order to spread opinions and snap analyses, and weren't spread publicly.

It's an analogy, not a direct reference. The point being if you don't want to risk being quoted on something, don't say it.

In the interest of full disclosure all internal correspondence are to be stored for a period of time just in case they need to be reviewed by a committee of unknown people. So, tossing derogatory comments about foreign dignitaries around (which was "the rub" according to the main stream news reports) in that atmosphere is really pretty dumb ... As there is no actual expectation-of-privacy.

Sure Wikileaks short-stroked this to a much larger crowd than anticipated, but hay... Once again... For a group of people that are paid specifically for their ability to brilliantly articulate delicate subjects in a tactful manner... There almost just had to be another way of phrasing what ever it is that they said that would have been just as clear yet (some how) less abrasive ... Don't Ya think?


You are going to play the morality/ethics card for credit card companies and banks? Huge fortunes built on corpses and cocaine that haven't paid a dime in taxes because they pride themselves on tax (evasion) "loop-holes" that typically involve storing (hiding) money in other countries.

That's such absurd hyperbole that I won't bother to respond.

Funny really, some folks seem to understand that part quite well. antidisestablishmentarianism much?


Aside from the morality argument, you haven't addressed my point about the attacks being bad tactics (because they may give incentives for other companies to stay away).

You attempted to address the point about bad strategy:
Do you really think the government needs an incentive to strip away additional rights and freedoms?
But this isn't quite right. Of course they don't need any incentive. What they do need is an excuse, some rationalization that they can claim is the reason they need to do this. The fact that millions of dollars in revenue were lost because some of our most important commercial institutions were crippled by terrorists -- and that this happened during the Christmas shopping season, so mommy couldn't buy that doll for little Suzy -- proves that the government is needed to protect the citizens. The DDoS attacks give that fig leaf of rationalization (even though we both know there's nothing they could do about it anyway), and this is the opposite of what (I assume) the Anonymous folks want.


Keep your head down. Don't rock the boat. Don't make waves. Do what you're told. These are all popular phrases quipped by people that wish to keep individuality to a minimum so the line remains toed and the status quo enforced. Strangely nothing great has ever been accomplished this way.

Incentive vs. excuse, semantics - opposite sides of the same coin. Both words work perfectly in my sentence above. The point is the government gets what the government wants because it can and will spin-doctor anything into anything for the purpose of attaining a goal regardless of any (inconvenient) facts that may stand in the way. Much like the spaceship weather balloon that made Roswell New Mexico so popular back in the 40s. The only viable roadblock is to get enough people interested in what all the hub-bub is about that they stop and look into what is actually going on instead of just reflexively buying the party line. Then and only then, can you can get a grass-roots movement going that will have a chance of stopping the hammer from falling.

Now as far as tactics go. Is it considered to be a proper and acceptable tactic to try and silence ones opponent by filling all of the available space for communication with senseless chatter solely for the purpose of preventing them from stating their business in a timely fashion, even if this denies them of their right to a proper say? The answer to this - according to the rules of parliamentary procedure - is simply, yes. It's called a filibuster.

If the US government goes after this guy as a terrorist, for tattling on the US government it will most likely blowup in their faces by lending credence to his claims that they are indeed lying and hiding behind half-truths.
4871
Ah virtual servers! "Nothing is real. And nothing to get hung about."
A Beatles quote? The last thing we need now is buggs ... You'll get us in a Strawberry (fields) jam.

 :D
4872
T-Clock / Re: T-Clock 2010 (beta - download)
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 12, 2010, 09:27 AM »
I honestly don't recall ever seeing that option...but I like it. It's possible it appeared in a different code branch than the one I'm on...(I don't know)...I'd hate to think after all this time I managed to miss something like that ... But stranger things have happened.

The functionality certainly was not intentionally removed. If you can let me know which build/version/authors work you saw this in I'll see what I can do about getting it in (or back in) to T-Clock's feature set.

Development has been stalled for a bit as office projects have had me pinned down but I hope to get it back on-track soon.
4873
Living Room / Re: how many posts would one have if ...
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 10, 2010, 07:23 AM »
Ah! ...That, yes (duh!)...

thanks
4874
Living Room / Re: how many posts would one have if ...
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 10, 2010, 06:55 AM »
What is this chat of which you speak? ...I know not of its existence.
4875
Living Room / Re: DDOS Ethics
« Last post by Stoic Joker on December 09, 2010, 05:54 PM »
But in these cases, the information is of questionable use, while causing real concern about diplomatic ties and future effectiveness.  I think it's pretty dangerous, personally.

Really? Why? Because some self important blow hard got caught popping off in an internal memo about a foreign dignitary? How about in the interest of professionalism (which isn't too much to expect given what they're paid...) they just kept the snide comments to themselves instead of documenting them on government servers where they're supposed to be archived forever?

It is absolutely no different then two IT pros leaving a location and (after accidentally butt-dialing said client) running the client into the ground. End result? somebody looses a client, and/or gets fired. Quite simple really, don't say anything that you're not willing to stand behind.

...This is the core premise behind why drunken ramblings are bad.



Aside from whether the WikiLeaks release was itself moral...

For a private entity to decide they don't want to do business with someone is entirely within their rights. It is not a censorship question. Quite the opposite: the 1st Amendment guarantees us the right to decide with whom we want to associate. So forcing, e.g., PayPal or Amazon, to do business with WikiLeaks is morally wrong.

Seriously? You are going to play the morality/ethics card for credit card companies and banks? Huge fortunes built on corpses and cocaine that haven't paid a dime in taxes because they pride themselves on tax (evasion) "loop-holes" that typically involve storing (hiding) money in other countries. Swell bunch of real down-to-earth folk they are...


The DDoS attacks are wrong both morally, practically, and strategically.
...And by that measure so was the Boston tea party back in the 1700s ... But some folk still do thing that was a pretty good idea.


They are wrong as a larger strategic matter because they're pushing the US government's hand over network security. We just may see demands that traffic be monitored by Cyber Command (NSA) so that attacks can be traced if not prevented.

Do you really think the government needs an incentive to strip away additional rights and freedoms? The DoH (and friends) have been doing a fine job (waving the "terrorist" boogieman) of turning the US into a police state on their own. They have no need of this silly putz and his website to crack down on anything. Especially when there is zero resistance to the crack down because sheeple really are dumb enough to believe the RIAA's (gov approved) claims that illegal music downloads support terrorism.

The guy is Innocent until proven guilty ... and until that happens, nobody is supposed to be persecuting/prosecuting him - That's vigilantism - Which I've heard is bad.


@40Hz - I love the elegantly simple street rules test ... Now that's how to cut to the chase.
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