Program Killer Usage/Explanation:
The purpose of this Program is to quietly sit on a computer and monitor the list
of running processes. If a program is executed that matches an internal list of
EXE's in the Program Killer, then that program is terminated without warning.
The original Idea for this program came from the ideas discussed in this
Novell Cool Solutions topic:
http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/zenworks/features/trenches/tr_block_napster_zw.html
This, coupled with the constant use of other annoying programs (especially in
College lab classrooms) like Instant Messengers and Spyware is what fostered
the birth of this program.
This program is Distributed under the GNU General Public License. Please see
the COPYING.txt file for more information.
Installation:
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Installation of the Program Killer is performed via several built in Command Line
options, and while these can be manipulated individually, a DOS Batch script has
been included to help automate the calling and use of the command line options.
Before using the Batch scripts, please read the comments inside, as there are
several system specific variables that may need to be set, depending on the
system.
New Install on a Windows 95/98/Me/NT4/2000/XP Machine from the Command Line:
progscript.bat install default progkill_config.txt
This will invoke the batch script to copy Program Killer to the Windows folder
(set inside the script itself), invokve the copy in the windows folder with the
"install" parameter to install it's Registry RUN value, set 'system' and 'hidden'
attribute flags, and it reads in the specified configuration file (Required)
to fill it's list of programs to kill. It will then launch the Program Killer.
The base configfile included in this distribution sets the following Settings:
Sets the password to "default"
Sets the ToolTip of the TrayIcon to "My Computer"
Sets the CycleTime to "45" Seconds
The Kill Button, Icon, and Popup Menu are all enabled.
The configuration file also includes a list of programs to kill, which
includes most Instant Messengers, Peer-To-Peer File Sharing Programs, and
some of the more common spyware programs. Please edit this list to meet
your needs.
While Running, the Program Killer constantly checks the Process List for EXE's
that are specified in the Termination List. If one or more of these "unauthorized"
EXE's are found, they are shutdown via a call to TerminateProcess(). Once terminated,
the Process List will refresh and resume scanning.
Interaction:
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Once Program Killer is launched, if the TrayIcon is enabled in the configuration,
then an Icon will be visible in the System Tray. This is Program Killer's only
visible presence, aside from the terminating of unwanted programs. If the TrayMenu
setting is enabled in the configuration, then the user can right-click on the icon and
a Popup Menu will appear. The menu contains three options: Maximize, Enable/Disable,
and Exit.
All three options in the menu will prompt for a password, and if the correct password
is supplied, then that command will execute. Maximize will bring the Program Killer's
main form to the foreground and remove itself from the System Tray. From the main form,
the Configuration Dialog and other options can be accessed, which are detailed further
below.
If Enable/Disable is chosen, then it will either Disable Program Killer's Timer that
causes it to scan for Programs at a set interval. This is useful if an Administrator
needed to run one of the targetted programs on the machine for a short time. If the
Program Killer is currently disabled, it will then be re-enabled. NOTE: To disable
Program Killer will always require a password, however, to re-enable it does not
require a password.
The last option is Exit, and this will cause Program Killer to wrote out it's settings
to it's data files and then exit.
Start Up:
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If the Program Killer has had either it's Icon, or Menu disabled (but not both), then
a certain combination of keys must be held down at startup of Program Killer (typically
when Windows loads up) to re-enable either the Icon or Menu.
For the Icon, the user must hold the Ctrl+Alt+Shift keys together while the Desktop is
loading and explorer.exe runs. If done correctly, Program Killer's Icon should appear.
For the menu, the user must hold Ctrl+Shift keys together while the Desktop is loading
and explorer.exe runs. If done correctly, Program Killer's Menu should be accessible
by right-clicking on the icon.
Dialogs/Forms:
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On the Main Form, a user will see a list of all running processes on the system as well
as each process' Process IDentifier (PID), and a series of Buttons underneath the process
list. The buttons are as follows:
Refresh Process List: This will refresh the process list with the latest snapshot
of all the system processes. The list itself is automatically
refreshed X seconds (Where X is a value supplied in the
Configuration dialog.)
Kill Program: This is will prompt the user if they wish to kill the selected program
in the Process List.
Config: This will prompt for the Password, and if the correct password is supplied,
then the Configuration Dialog is displayed, allowing the user to edit various
options that control Program Killer's behaviour.
Enabled/Disabled: If "Enabled", then it will prompt the user for the password, and if
the password is correct, it will disable the timer that cycles
Program Killer. If "Disabled", then it will re-enable Program
Killer w/o asking for a password.
Exit: This will prompt for the Password, and if the correct password is supplied,
then the program will exit.
About: Displays to the user the About dialog box.
Configuration:
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The Configuration Dialog allows a user to edit the various aspects of Program Killer.
The Termination List holds an EXE Name and a short Description of that EXE that will
be terminated.
Change Password: Launches a sub-form that requests the Old Password, and the New
Password twice, for verification and to avoid mispelling
System Tray ToolTip: Optional field. Sets a tooltip for the icon in the System
Tray that will appear if the mouse cursor hovers over the
Icon for a second or so.
Add Program: Displays the Add Program form for adding a new program to the
Termination List.
Del Program: Prompts whether the user wishes to remove the selected program
from the Termination List.
Import Config: Prompts for the full path to a Program Killer Configuration
File.
Export Config: Prompts for the full path to export a Program Killer Configuration
File to.
Time Between Scans: Number of seconds between each scan of the Process list.
Enable Kill Button: Enables or Disables the 'Kill Program' button on the
main form.
Enable Tray Icon: Enables or Disables the System Tray Icon. If disabled, the
only way to re-enable is by holding down Ctrl+Alt+Shift
while Windows loads.
Enable Tray Menu: Enables or Disables the Popup Menu via Right-Clicking on the
Icon in the System Tray. If disabled, the only way to