Valhalla Legends Archive

Programming => General Programming => Visual Basic Programming => Topic started by: Topaz on July 27, 2005, 09:07 AM

Title: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Topaz on July 27, 2005, 09:07 AM
I'm looking to code something small to force other items to be invisible (ie, AIM, Stealthbot, a Firefox window) to keep nosy siblings out of my business. Is there any API I can utilize?
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: TehUser on July 27, 2005, 09:27 AM
You want the ShowWindow (http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/winui/winui/windowsuserinterface/windowing/windows/windowreference/windowfunctions/showwindow.asp) function.
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Topaz on July 27, 2005, 05:09 PM
Yey, I figured it out. Thanks.
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Networks on July 27, 2005, 06:35 PM
Quote from: Topaz on July 27, 2005, 09:07 AM
I'm looking to code something small to force other items to be invisible (ie, AIM, Stealthbot, a Firefox window) to keep nosy siblings out of my business. Is there any API I can utilize?

Just have seperate logons for you computer, I'd hate my parents looking in my shit, they think I make viruses!
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Topaz on July 27, 2005, 09:13 PM
My computer's on pretty often, and I don't want siblings to be reading conversations with other people that I left open. (They tend to swear every fourth word) I just set it to hide all specified windows and the actual program itself. You can only revive it with a hotkey :-)
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: R.a.B.B.i.T on July 28, 2005, 02:29 AM
Or you could get new friends :P
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Topaz on July 28, 2005, 10:00 AM
Quote from: rabbit on July 28, 2005, 02:29 AM
Or you could get new friends :P

Which is why YOU suck.
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Networks on July 28, 2005, 10:47 AM
I still think seperate accounts on your computer since you're using Windows would be a much better solution. START -> Log Off -> Switch, and make sure there's a password when you have to do something. I am sure it'll be harder for you siblings to get on. Hell it's even more organized!
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: MyndFyre on July 28, 2005, 04:45 PM
Quote from: Networks on July 28, 2005, 10:47 AM
I still think seperate accounts on your computer since you're using Windows would be a much better solution. START -> Log Off -> Switch, and make sure there's a password when you have to do something. I am sure it'll be harder for you siblings to get on. Hell it's even more organized!

That doesn't work if 1.) his screen name isn't password-protected, 2.) fast user switching isn't enabled, 3.) his home network is configured as a domain, or 4.) he doesn't want to have to go through the welcome screen every time he wants to get up to go to the bathroom.
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: R.a.B.B.i.T on July 28, 2005, 05:20 PM
Or if the other person knows how to use Ctrl+Alt+Del
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Warrior on July 28, 2005, 05:52 PM
haha I use Networks method. Yes Ido lock it whenever I get up though :)

But since that's rarely :o
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Networks on July 28, 2005, 06:23 PM
My password for the damn account logon screen is 3 letters, how hard is that?
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: MyndFyre on July 28, 2005, 06:54 PM
One of 17,576 combinations?
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Warrior on July 28, 2005, 07:56 PM
mine is easy too :o
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Topaz on July 28, 2005, 09:48 PM
Quote from: rabbit on July 28, 2005, 05:20 PM
Or if the other person knows how to use Ctrl+Alt+Del

I locked that key combination, just because of that :-)
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Psycho on July 29, 2005, 12:34 PM
What if they just start pressing buttons and find your hotkey?
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Adron on July 29, 2005, 01:05 PM
Quote from: rabbit on July 28, 2005, 05:20 PM
Or if the other person knows how to use Ctrl+Alt+Del

How would the other person knowing how to use ctrl+alt+del help them get past different windows user accounts for different people?
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Topaz on July 29, 2005, 04:49 PM
Quote from: Adron on July 29, 2005, 01:05 PM
Quote from: rabbit on July 28, 2005, 05:20 PM
Or if the other person knows how to use Ctrl+Alt+Del

How would the other person knowing how to use ctrl+alt+del help them get past different windows user accounts for different people?

I think he meant closing the application keeping my things invisible :-P

Quote from: Curse on July 29, 2005, 01:05 PM
What if they just start pressing buttons and find your hotkey?

It's possible, so I might add a password protect screen or require multiple hotkeys.
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Yegg on July 29, 2005, 04:56 PM
Why not save up some money and buy your own computer Topaz?
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Topaz on July 29, 2005, 05:12 PM
I have a computer, but it's back home. The laptop I brought with me doesn't have a wireless card.
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: R.a.B.B.i.T on July 29, 2005, 09:17 PM
Quote from: Adron on July 29, 2005, 01:05 PM
Quote from: rabbit on July 28, 2005, 05:20 PM
Or if the other person knows how to use Ctrl+Alt+Del

How would the other person knowing how to use ctrl+alt+del help them get past different windows user accounts for different people?
If fast user switching is enabled, you can terminate processes of any user from task manager.
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: hismajesty on July 30, 2005, 11:04 AM
Mind uploading and/or sending me this? I could find it useful.

Logging in/out every time I get up would be a pain, and a waste of a good few seconds. I have my own computer in my room, and then there's a family one downstairs that my parents/sister use but my mom has gotten on mine occasionally and I'd prefer if I could do that while I'm at school and stuff just in case!

Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Topaz on July 30, 2005, 12:08 PM
Ugh - I just implemented the CTRL + ALT + DEL lock, but it only works when the window has focus. I might use windows rootkit to hide it in another process, but I'm not sure :-/
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Adron on July 30, 2005, 12:39 PM
Quote from: rabbit on July 29, 2005, 09:17 PM
Quote from: Adron on July 29, 2005, 01:05 PM
Quote from: rabbit on July 28, 2005, 05:20 PM
Or if the other person knows how to use Ctrl+Alt+Del

How would the other person knowing how to use ctrl+alt+del help them get past different windows user accounts for different people?
If fast user switching is enabled, you can terminate processes of any user from task manager.

I don't think you can do that unless you're an admin.
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: R.a.B.B.i.T on July 30, 2005, 01:45 PM
O well, my accounts always have admin :P
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Tazo on July 31, 2005, 08:26 AM
I just unplug the monitor cord if I walk away or leave my computer alone.
Then they hold down the power button -__-
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Grok on August 02, 2005, 08:54 AM
Quote from: Topaz on July 27, 2005, 09:13 PM
My computer's on pretty often, and I don't want siblings to be reading conversations with other people that I left open. (They tend to swear every fourth word) I just set it to hide all specified windows and the actual program itself. You can only revive it with a hotkey :-)

Quote from: Topaz on July 28, 2005, 10:00 AM
Quote from: rabbit on July 28, 2005, 02:29 AM
Or you could get new friends :P

Which is why YOU suck.

Haha, you only swear every fifth word ;p
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Networks on August 02, 2005, 09:34 AM
My trouble is that my parents won't let me have the computer on for hours and hours, so I figured why not have a schedule but I am not completely sure if it's possible to turn a computer on and off without the use of BIOS.
Title: Re: [VB6] Making other Applications Invisible
Post by: Topaz on August 02, 2005, 09:53 AM
Why not use BIOS? Anyway, I finished the project. Should you want it, message me at Vesalius [email protected]