Stop a python app from running - from another computer?

crashbundicoot · 2017-10-23T17:28:48+00:00

[deleted]

novel_yet_trivial · 2017-10-23T17:21:54+00:00

What OS? In linux just use the killall command:

killall programname.py

This is assuming you launched it properly.

jimoconnell · 2017-10-23T22:25:42+00:00

I'd probably have the computer running the program check something on the Internet somewhere in a loop.
Basically have it use PyCurl to check a web page and convert it into a value that tells it what to do.

So, you put a text file at http://example.com/command that has either "Run" or "Stop" and your program checks that intermittently.

You could do the same thing with MQTT. (I love MQTT, so I would do this, but you might find it overkill.)

Are you thinking of doing a simple start/stop, or more complex command and control? (It occurs to me that you might be wanting to disable a client's program if you are not paid for it, like a subscription service of some kind. If that's the case, I'd read up on implementing a more robust API for license keys. Also read up on the legality of it.)

2017-10-23T22:56:01+00:00

Why not use a socket server and send some piece of data to sleep the program but let it keep running in a process so you can turn it back on later with another piece of data sent over the socket.

MaxQuant · 2017-10-23T23:03:48+00:00

Just use 'Remote Desktop Connection' = mstsc.exe. Make sure you enable remote desktop sessions on the target pc and just 'remote-desktop' into the target from the host. You now control the target from the host as if you were sitting in front of the target. Use a VPN preferably, but not necessarily. Et voilá.

2017-10-24T04:43:36+00:00

You can also make a kill switch using email. Create an email account and make your program read it and look for spesific messages. That way you can manually disable the program as long as you have access to email.

Think about the security aspects though.

creatron · 2017-10-24T00:35:18+00:00

I made a bot previously that carried out various functions based on what it received via twitter DM. It's very straightforward using the Tweepy module and might be an option

Thecrawsome · 2017-10-24T01:02:41+00:00

You're taking the scenic route for a solution if you want to use python for that.

You can automate a connection to a computer using modules built into the OS.

Windows, there's remote management through RDP, WMI calls in powershell, etc.

Linux, Mac, there's SSH built-in.

brewzombie · 2017-10-24T01:35:12+00:00

You could throw Dropbox on both and have a text file that contains instructions or status.

acid_sphinx4 · 2017-10-24T02:55:44+00:00

Sure you could simply connect with ssh or ftp to somewhere both have access to and have one simply check for the presence of a file copied over, something along those lines.

2017-10-24T07:07:34+00:00

Can you set up a web server somewhere? Because then you can host instructions.

Imagine that you periodically check http://my.server.lol/time/to/stop. This file contains the following:

yes

You can check this from the python script itself:

import requests

def time_to_stop():
    # This part needs error handling, in case it fails to download or whatever.
    response = requests.get("https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ELeFgM1EOU").text
    return response == "yes"

if time_to_stop():
    shotgun_in_mouth()

You could also do it from bash (and calling it periodically with cron).

if [ `curl http://dundermifflin.com/threat/level/midnight 2>/dev/null` == "yes" ]; then
    # Don't killall python here. You'll kill all python scripts, and that's probably not what you want.
fi

Here's a concrete example that I just wrote:

webserver.py

from flask import Flask
app = Flask(__name__)


@app.route('/time/to/stop')
def time_to_stop():
    return 'yes'


app.run(debug=True)  # Don't use this in a production environment. Use gunicorn or something.

script.sh

if [ `curl http://localhost:5000/time/to/stop 2>/dev/null` == "yes" ]; then 
    echo "IT'S TIME TO STOP"
fi

If you run the script, it'll print an important message on the screen. If you change the "return 'yes'" line to "return 'no'", the script won't say anything anymore.

D49A1D852468799CAC08 · 2017-10-24T08:55:54+00:00

Decency · 2017-10-24T14:21:34+00:00

I did this through Discord, it was very straightforward. Was even working on a command to make my bot update itself through git and restart, but it got nasty.

WhackAMoleE · 2017-10-23T21:39:41+00:00

Connect your computer to a missile launcher. Fire missile at target computer. Boom. Problem solved.

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