Shutdown Computer by an SMS

Here is a trick you will all want to try. Not just try, but this could be useful when you are trying to give a slip to your boss from office and dont want to be caught just because you went back to your work station just to shut it down... :D

Shutting down your laptop / computer will be as simple as sending a simple SMS.

You will need the following to do this trick :

• Outlook configured with a POP3 enabled account. Preferable gmail.
• Two twitter accounts.
• A cell phone from which you can send SMS.

Step 1

Create a file name "shutdown.bat".

Type the following code in a notepad and save it as a .bat file anywhere on you laptop / computer.

c:\windows\system32\shutdown -s -f -t 00

What this does is points to the shutdown application. -s means to shutdown, -f  means to force it and -t is to set the timer to zero seconds.

Step 2

Have a POP3 account. If you dont have one then you could sign up for a gmail account. You will need to configure your POP3 account in Outlook and set it to receive emails automatically every 1 minute.

To know how to configure your Gmail Account after you have logged in click on Setting. Now click on "Forwarding and POP/IMAP"

Step 3

Sign up for two twitter accounts. Lets name them as "AccountA" and "AccountB". During the sign up of "AccountB" give the same POP3 email address that you have configured.

Now let both follow each other. 

For "AccountA" configure your mobile device to receive and send tweets. Goto Settings and then click on Devices to get instructions for the same.

For "AccountB" under Settings and Notices check against "Email when I receive new Direct Messages"

Step 4

Open Outlook and click on Tools. Now click on "Rules and Alerts". If you are using Outlook 2007 follow these steps. Even if you are using a lower version I dont think the configuration steps should change much. The thing important here is the logic which you will need to follow and implement according to what ever POP3 email client you are using.

1. Click "New Rules" from the "E-mail Rules" tab.
2. Select "Check messages when they arrive"  under "Start from a blank rule" and click next.
3. From the list of conditions select "with specific words in the subject".
4. Click on "specific words" in the Step 2 block that you see below.
5. Type "Direct message from AccountA" and click on Add.
6. Click in Ok and then click Next in the Rules Wizzard window.
7. Check "start application" from the Step 1 block.
8. Now click on the word "application" and choose "shutdown.bat" and click next twice.
9. On the "Finish Rule Setup" page under Step 2 check only against "Turn on this rule."
10. Click on Finish.

Step 5

From your mobile send the following message to 5566511.

d AccountB { Any Text }

There you go your computer should shutdown within 75 seconds from this SMS being sent. However, the shut time will depend on the SMS and email gateways delay time as well.