Windows-Agent for Nextcloud/PhoneTrack

A console application meant to be run as a service that enables you to track your Windows devices with the Nextcloud-App "PhoneTrack".

Compiled with: .NET Framework 4.7.2

Installation

1. Setup and validate
   • Download (or compile) executable ("WindowsPhoneTrack.exe") - further referred as EXE
   • Place EXE inside empty folder on your boot drive
   • Run EXE --> config ("WindowsPhoneTrack.conf") will be created beside it
   • Open config, enter information as described below (enable verboseoutput), save file and exit
   • Run EXE again to validate that a position is obtained and data send to your cloud
     • Open Nextcloud/PhoneTrack and check that the send data can be displayed
   • Consider disabling verboseoutput
   • Create a backup of your configuration
2. Create a service that will be executed by the system on startup
   • Easiest way is to use the "Non-Sucking Service Manager"
     • Download and install from their website
     • Install using Chocolatey
       • choco install nssm
   • Open CMD as admin
   • Run nssm install
     • GUI opens
     • Use the "..."-button after "Path" and select the EXE
     • Make sure "Startup directory" is the same the EXE and config are located in
     • Enter a name (e.g. WindowsPhoneTrack) at "Service name" and hit "Install service"
   • Run nssm start WindowsPhoneTrack
   • Done

Configuration

Configuration is located in the .conf-file next to the executable.
Parameters (each one must be specified except the 2nd):

• phonetrackuri
  • No default
  • URL to your Nextcloud hosting the PhoneTrack-App
    • https://<YOUR_NC_URL>/apps/phonetrack/logGet/<TOKEN>/<DEVICE_NAME>
  • How to obtain
    • Open Nextcloud and navigate to PhoneTrack
    • (Optional) Click create session and enter a name
    • Click on chain-icon of the session you want the device to be part of (normally the new created one)
    • Copy value of "HTTP-GET-Link"-textbox into configuration file and remove everything after "MyName" (so it looks like the link above)
    • Replace "MyName" with the name that the device should be listed as
• expectedanswer
  • No default
  • May be left blank
  • If this field is filled the application will check the response after the get-request against this value
    • If the value differs a warning will be printed and the next position will be send ignoring the "minposchange" parameter
  • My server responds: {"done":1,"friends":[]} on success - can be validated for your configuration in verbose-mode
• minposchange
  • Default: 100
  • Meters the location of the device has to change until the application will send the new position to your server
• minaccuracy
  • Default: 120
  • Minimal GPS-accuracy required
  • The number represents the radius in meters around the obtained latitude and longitude the device may be inside: A lower number requires more precision
    • Position will be dropped if radius is higher than specified here
    • WARNING: Some devices may not be very accurate. Please start the application manually in verbose-mode a few times at different locations (including indoor) to get an estimate which maximal radius is suitable for your device.
• forceposupdate
  • Default: 24
  • Time in hours. The application will send a new position, ignoring minposchange, after this time expired
  • Set to 0 to disable feature
• ignorealtifzero
  • Default: true
  • Some devices may not offer an altitude with the position (or it is always zero)
    • Set this option to "true" and the altitude will not be transmitted to the server if it is zero
  • If your device offers an altitude-value you should disable this function, cause it is possible to be at 0 meters above sea level
    • You can check your device if you disable this option, enable "verboseoutput" and check the URL the application displays https://[...]&alt=<VALUE>&[...]
• includebattery
  • Default: true
  • If enabled the estimated charge remaining of your battery will be transmitted to the server
    • If you have multiple batteries only the first one is taken into account
• verboseoutput
  • Default: false
  • Display Info-Statesments in the console
    • Obtained altitude and longitude
    • Position dropped due to inaccuracy
    • Position dropped due to less horizontal movement
    • API-URL created from the collected data
    • Status of the HTTP-GET-Request
  • Should not be enabled when used as a service!
    If the application tells the configuration is invalid, don't hesitate to rename your current configuration, double-click the application and copy only your "phonetrackuri" in the new created config to make sure your settings aren't the cause.

License

This application is published undes GNU GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE Version 3 as refered in the LICENSE-File.

Copyright (C) 2022 0Raptor

This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this program. If not, see https://www.gnu.org/licenses/.

Sources

The program was created with the support of the following resources

• https://gitlab.com/eneiluj/phonetrack-oc/-/wikis/userdoc#http-request
• https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4192971/in-powershell-how-do-i-convert-datetime-to-unix-time
• https://docs.microsoft.com/de-de/dotnet/api/system.device.location.geocoordinatewatcher?view=netframework-4.8 12.05.2022
• https://www.csharp-console-examples.com/csharp-console/get-laptop-battery-status-using-c-console/ 12.05.2022
• http://zuga.net/articles/cs-3-ways-to-make-an-http-get-request/ 14.05.2022