Summer Project: Create keylogger

MDBlueIce · 07-18-2005, 07:54 PM

As a summer project, I would like to write a keylogger in C for a *nix system. I have researched a little, and all the sources I can find indicate that such a task must involve the kernel. I have no knowledge of the kernel, and would like to know if anyone knows wether this can be done without touching the kernel.

jlliagre · 07-19-2005, 01:48 AM

That's depends on what "*nix" stands for.
If it's Solaris 10+, it would be just a few lines of dtrace scripting.
All other *nix and *nux would certainly require a more intrusive and complicate work.

MDBlueIce · 07-19-2005, 06:24 AM

Dag it, I'm on Slackware and that's what I was planning to write it for. What a pain. I know this sounds very unhackerish, but it is hard for me to learn new things on my own (from laziness, lack of time, ineptness) so I probably won't get to pull this off.

vharishankar · 07-19-2005, 08:25 AM

Give it a try. I can understand where you come from, but if you're really scared of programming tough things you may not get anywhere.

Why not start with simple, but challenging programs before attempting a larger one?

That's what I do and that's how I learn new things.

keefaz · 07-19-2005, 08:53 AM

Maybe you could try a X keylogger at a first step ?
(require use of the Xlib C library instead of the Kernel)

lowpro2k3 · 07-19-2005, 04:19 PM

I dont see how this could be done without the kernel, especially if you want to keylog what root is typing. I imagine you would need to be very comfortable with C and learning new API's should be a routine activity. No offence but you might be a little over your head.

Matir · 07-19-2005, 04:32 PM

So which keystrokes do you want to log? Local console? Local console+X? SSH-ed in users?

alred · 07-20-2005, 08:08 AM

maybe you can further built on this simpler X app ::
http://www.stllinux.org/meeting_note...0619/xkey.html

can only sniff keys from already opened x apps or console i guess ...

i'm not sure is this what you are looking for though ...
hope this helps.