Blacking Out "Shared" Monitor

[shdawson]

Hi,


Working with UltraVNC 1.0.8.2 for server and viewer. Realizing there is a security consideration I must account for.

When I remotely connect to a machine, there are times when others around the said shared machine (that I am connected to) should not see what I am doing. On those occasions, it would be better to black-out the monitor, or some type of similar action, to prohibit them seeing what I am doing.

The target machines at this point are Vista and XP machines. The future holds Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008, and perhaps Windows Server 2000. Are there options available to meet this need?


Thanks....

[supercoe]

The toolbar of the viewer offers a button that will do this.

[shdawson]

Sorry, I am not seeing it. What button is this, please?


Thanks...

[supercoe]

There should be a button that says "Toggle Remote Input and Remote Blank Monitor"

[shdawson]

Right, clicking that button only disabled input. The monitor does not go blank.

BTW, where is the documentation for UltraVNC?


Thanks...

[supercoe]

I've had better luck with some operating systems to enable capture alpha blending before the screen would be blanked out.

No great docs exist, but here is some info:
http://doc.uvnc.com

[shdawson]

"Disable keyboard and mouse input as well as the monitor onthe remote computer."


Right, the keyboard and mouse are disabled, but the monitor is still showing. Any idea why and how to turn it off?

[shdawson]

"Disable keyboard and mouse input as well as the monitor onthe remote computer."


Is there a way to separate the monitor from the keyboard/mouse input?

[supercoe]

Not that I know of maybe someone else could confirm that.

[redge]

Is there a way to separate the monitor from the keyboard/mouse input?

yes possible since uvnc 1.0.8.2

[shdawson]

Right, that is the version I am running on both boxes.


So, how does one kill the video on the other end?

[erico]

It looks as though this is no longer working at all to blank the remote screen. I have tried installing the mirror drivers on both ends, and without the mirror drivers. Environment is Windows XP Pro SP3 at both ends.

How can I make the screen blank work?

[redge]

So, how does one kill the video on the other end?

never tried this, i need to test... short free time... wait or switch to vnc related product if you can't wait.

[erico]

this "blackout" worked up to version 1.0.5 and then seems to have been more and more broken since that version. Worked GREAT in 1.0.2.

[shdawson]

I see. So, is this a bug fix that needs to be submitted?

[erico]

Not sure if it is a bug or if the feature is being phased out. Would need a developer to answer that.

I know in 1.0.6.x the "blank screen" became an image that had the eye logo on it, so I had to remove that version from the field and revert back to 1.0.5 for the black screen option, as I use UVNC to remotely manage displays in a publicly displayed area and do not want people seeing what I am doing.

[supercoe]

To replace the eye create a bitmap file named background.bmp and place it in the UltraVNC server directory.

[shdawson]

Yes, I am in the same situation. I cannot let people see when I am working on a remote box, and I have no idea who is around the said remote box.

Is there a stop gap measure that can be implemented until the code base is reviewed?