Thread: Hide Application

  1. #1
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    Hide Application

    I want to make applicatin in a way so that user can not view my application on taskbar, not at toolbar where time is displayed and even user can't see it in list which appears on pressing
    Ctrl-Alt-Del.

    So.......can anybody please show me the way to develop such application.
    Chintan R Naik

  2. #2
    julie lexx... btq's Avatar
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    I remember seeing someone asking this and the answer
    was simply "you can't" . Here's a draft of the irc-log (names erased, 3 persons and no 1 is the one asking the question ):

    1: how can i make a prog that works in backgoround [not minimized] 'invisible' ?
    2: invisible in what way?
    1: that can not be seen in ctrl+alt+del or on the desktop
    2: you can't
    3: did u mean a service?
    2: services are also visible
    3: with ctr+alt+del?
    2: yes
    maybe this is not very informative but the one answering knows his stuff.
    But maybe someone here knows better ?


    /btq
    ...viewlexx - julie lexx

  3. #3
    It's full of stars adrianxw's Avatar
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    Services are not as immeadiately obvious. The svchost processes are, but on the ordinary display, you cannot see what services each one is running, (an svchost process can run several services).
    Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity unto the dream.

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    Have you ever tried "ProcessViewer" tool supplied with Microsoft Visual studio. This tool shows the process running in your PC. It shows more processes than we can see in the list which appears while pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del.

    So.....from above I can say that....it is possible to hide your application from Ctrl-Alt-Del.
    Chintan R Naik

  5. #5
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    Yes, but only by hooking into system structures and faking information. Certainly not recommended and could cause system instability issues. Some viruses hide themselves in this way however, for example.

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    Ya....it is possible but do you know the way or can you please give me related links ?????
    Chintan R Naik

  7. #7
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    A good starting point would be to intercept all calls to EnumProcesses. I wouldn't distribute any code that does so however, as it would have to be different for each operating system version (Win95/98/ME/2K/XP/NT etc/etc).

  8. #8
    mustang benny bennyandthejets's Avatar
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    Elixia, how is it possible to intercept all calls to EnumProcesses? At first guesses I could only think of doing some dodgy thing like using GetProcAddress() and planting my own function there.
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  9. #9
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    Re: Hide Application

    Originally posted by cr_naik
    I want to make applicatin in a way so that user can not view my application on taskbar, not at toolbar where time is displayed and even user can't see it in list which appears on pressing
    Ctrl-Alt-Del.

    So.......can anybody please show me the way to develop such application.
    Why do you want to use it for? o_O

  10. #10
    It's full of stars adrianxw's Avatar
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    >>> Why do you want to use it for?

    Good question, I'm trying to think of a legitimate reason. Can think of plenty of dodgy reasons.
    Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity unto the dream.

  11. #11
    mustang benny bennyandthejets's Avatar
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    Since when did that matter in this community? This is a programming forum, not an ethics forum. I don't know the answer to cr_naik's problem, but if somebody does, they shouldn't hesitate because of a moral issue.
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  12. #12
    It's full of stars adrianxw's Avatar
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    >>>
    6. Messages relating to cracking, (erroneously called "hacking" by many), copyright violations, or other illegal activities will be deleted.
    <<<

    From the board rules. Anything that is dubious can be deleted, and I frequently do.

    >>> Since when did that matter in this community?

    For as long as the community has been moderated, (i.e. since before we were on the vBullettin boards).

    >>> This is a programming forum, not an ethics forum.

    It is a forum with rules.

    >>> they shouldn't hesitate because of a moral issue.

    I, the other moderators and the site owners believe everyone involved in our profession has a duty to try to prevent illegal/imoral activities. I will moderate this forum with that stand point.
    Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity unto the dream.

  13. #13
    mustang benny bennyandthejets's Avatar
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    I believe in programming, pure and simple. I agree that some avenues of programming can lead to "illegal cracking" and other dangerous activities, but I do not agree with blocking the pursuit of knowledge. At the moment I am working hard to understand the security systems within Windows, and that could lead to harmful activities, theoretically (that is not my purpose though). I would not want my intentions to be questioned if I posted on that topic in these forums. cr_naik's question seems reasonable enough to me. He/she merely has a program that he/she doesn't want cluttering up the screen, taskbar, or task manager. I have often wanted the same effect, sans any malintent.

    I also don't like the idea that I am not allowed, in these forums, to learn about cracking. I have no intention of ever using any knowledge to harm any person or their computer, but I am very intruiged and interested in how it can work. So just because someone asks about cracking, it doesn't mean they shouldn't be told. Knowledge should always be shared.

    I'm sorry if I have offended anyone with my apparent lack of morals on this issue, but I can't help but feel a little saddened that in this community, even just learning can be restricted.
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  14. #14
    It's full of stars adrianxw's Avatar
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    The rules are those of the site owners, (and I support those rules). This is not a free speech forum.

    When we discussed the wording of the rules, a serious issue was the legal ramifications that could follow from someone picking up some skill and later using it for illegal purposes. Consider the crazy legal system in the US, and the plethora of lawyers out to find someone, somewhere to sue.

    Sadly, there are many cracker forums, and it is all to easy to get this dubious info elsewhere. It will not come from here.

    >>>
    He/she merely has a program that he/she doesn't want cluttering up the screen, taskbar, or task manager.
    <<<

    Whilst I would agree that hiding a Window which doesn't need to be shown, or not cluttering up the taskbar, which is too small, are essential tools of the trade.

    I think going as far as hiding it from the Task Manager is excessive. Why is "cluttering" the Task Manager, (whose raison detre is to manage the running tasks), an issue?

    >>> I'm sorry if I have offended anyone

    You haven't. You have simply made your views known.

    >>>
    but I can't help but feel a little saddened that in this community, even just learning can be restricted.
    <<<

    The rules stand. Use of the forums/community is governed by those rules. Most respectable programming forums have very similar rules.
    Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity unto the dream.

  15. #15
    mustang benny bennyandthejets's Avatar
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    I can respect that this forum has rules, and that they must be followed. But I do not understand why an experienced programmer like yourself, adrianxw, can agree with restricting the movement of knowledge between programmers.

    These restrictions provide safety for computer users around the world (or so they think), but at what cost? We lose the important freedoms of speech and knowledge.

    Please note that I am in no way condoning any form of illegal cracking, merely universal and unconditional education.

    I think this moral issue has been exhausted. We should now get back to what is important, answering the question that began this thread.
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