Thread: Track your car! (free)

Originally Posted by Vchat20

actually, what chris linked to should be able to work even if the comp is off. just hook one of the triggers up to the power on switch and make it a momentary pulse. send the command via SMS and voila! remot controlled computer

LOL yeah voila, clunk clunk click, HDD crash, blue screen

In theory it can work if reliability is not an issue plus if the thief aint gonna rip out the PC or any part of it thats visible. The SMS may not get delivered? may get delivered 1 hours later? Its much reliable to call the phone and send a DTMF tones to it.

How about turning the PC on automatically if the alarm goes off and sending a "ALARM TIGGERED" message to your phone or calling your phone?

If you already have the hardware to control the PC why not use that hardware to send the GPS data. I shiver whenever I hear using unattended PC for security, theres just too many things that can go wrong being on its own.

Originally Posted by Arathranar

Sounds like the way I'd do it.

However I wouldn't call it a Trojan - by definition that's something that's masquerading as something else (and hence generally is a bad thing since why would it hide what it is?).

That's why the authors are usually calling them RAT's now. (Remote administration tools) It's typically just the a/v scanners that call them trojans. They dont masquerade as another program, just run virtually invisible. They can actually imbed themselves into the memory space of another program such as explorer. Thats why they are so hard to pick up. A lot of people have them on their comp without ever knowing. But that's good for me because I hate seeing things run in the background. But if you want it to, most RATs have an option that will make it run visible when you configure it.

Originally Posted by n8scstm

That's why the authors are usually calling them RAT's now. (Remote administration tools) It's typically just the a/v scanners that call them trojans. They dont masquerade as another program, just run virtually invisible. They can actually imbed themselves into the memory space of another program such as explorer. Thats why they are so hard to pick up. A lot of people have them on their comp without ever knowing. But that's good for me because I hate seeing things run in the background. But if you want it to, most RATs have an option that will make it run visible when you configure it.

This is absolutely terrifying to me considering I'm typing on a laptop with a built in webcam and this post is like 6yrs old...
I shudder to think what's out there now.
Did anyone ever come up with a good solution for this as an option for auto security?
I saw an auto security system called "Celstart" that used your cell phone to control the car via SMS a few years ago but their web site is no longer around. Wonder if that idea just died or maybe evolved and resurfaced with a new name?

Originally Posted by gulleyman

This is absolutely terrifying to me considering I'm typing on a laptop with a built in webcam and this post is like 6yrs old...
I shudder to think what's out there now.
Did anyone ever come up with a good solution for this as an option for auto security?
I saw an auto security system called "Celstart" that used your cell phone to control the car via SMS a few years ago but their web site is no longer around. Wonder if that idea just died or maybe evolved and resurfaced with a new name?

Actually for $100 or less you can get a self-contained module with a GSM device coupled with a GPS and a controler (plus antennas/cables/etc). The device allows you to track the car anytime by sending SMS messages and you can even plug into the car's ignition to shut it off the car by SMS (in case it is stolen/etc)! There's even a panic button you can hide around the car/trunk/seats so that if you're kidnapped you can push it and the devices sends S.O.S. SMS messages to pre-programmed numbers with the GPS location so people can find you (useful in certain countries were kidnapping is common). Other options such as receive SMS if your car goes are outside defined boundaries are also possible (to control where your kids go) -- none of that requires subscription to any service or a carpc. Definitely possible to do all that with a carpc - but you're probably going to spend a lot more time and likely more money than using one of those boxes.

Originally Posted by guino

none of that requires subscription to any service or a carpc.

Do you have any links to any pay-by-use gsm devices? I've yet to be able to find one to implement into my own design of exactly the sort of device you are talking about, to avoid having to pay a monthly fee and only pay when it's used.

Originally Posted by malcom2073

Do you have any links to any pay-by-use gsm devices? I've yet to be able to find one to implement into my own design of exactly the sort of device you are talking about, to avoid having to pay a monthly fee and only pay when it's used.

Actually, that is any standard GSM service that you can get from a phone service provider. In the case of the devices I mentioned, you can use a pre-paid SIM card from T-Mobile or just get an additional line on your existing plan. The only requirement is that the SIM card you use with it is able to receive and send SMS messages (which is standard with almost any type of service). The Pre-paid SIM card from T-Mobile comes with 1000 minutes (in credits) that have expiration of 1 year which comes out to be about $10 per month, which is about the same as an extra line on AT&T on your existing plan. Some devices can work on GPRS too but that is more expensive in general. There are more options of SIM cards and carriers, it is a matter of choosing what works best for you -- in some countries it is possible to get a second chip to work on your same account without any extra fees. Regardless of what you choose it is insignificant compared to what companies charge to do the same service for you.

This is one example (There are many more, cheaper and/or more expensive):
http://cgi.ebay.com/Realtime-GPS-GSM...item43a44801f4

that's pretty sweet. I've been looking at a couple of solutions for tracking my car if it gets stolen and this seems like it would work really well. I never thought about a device using a sims card to send text messages with gps location.

edit: one issue I see though is that as far as I can tell any phone number that calls the number will receive a text message with your coordinates. Not sure if you could get something that only allows you to send text messages to certain people or something though.

Originally Posted by cla1067

edit: one issue I see though is that as far as I can tell any phone number that calls the number will receive a text message with your coordinates. Not sure if you could get something that only allows you to send text messages to certain people or something though.

That's not accurate -- I've seen one personally and (while it wasn't the one I posted) it allows you to register the "admin" phone numbers that can receive the GPS position (and that will receive the SOS messages if used) -- only those "enrolled" numbers will be able to control and monitor the unit. I would assume that most devices would have the same features since they probably have the same control module in them -- you can always look up the manufacturers specs online and check if it has all you need. I bought one of the "personal tracking units" for my brother and it had all the bells and whistles.

guino, yur the man!!!