[Codebug]

First of all, I'm not quite sure if java is even the right tool for this job, but I thought I'd give it a shot. Basically, I'm wanting to write a program that will keep up with the number of mouse clicks and keypresses that occur during the execution of the program. I would like the program to "run in the background". The problem I am running into is I'm not exactly sure how to register the events outside of a GUI window. I've handled events before, but all were contained inside a GUI window I wrote. I want this program to be able to register events anywhere on the screen, not just in a java GUI window so that during the course of the day, any mouse clicks and keystrokes anywhere will be recorded.

I haven't started writing the program yet, but I have been doing some brainstorming. I have thought of a potential solution, but if it works at all, I only think it will work for the mouse and not the keyboard. I thought about just making a blank, invisible JFrame, that will fill the entire screen(i.e. pass my screen resolution to the JFrame).
But, even if that registers the mouse clicks, and even if I can "see through" the JFrame, I don't think I will be able to click on anything else(icons, folders, files, etc.) because the invisible JFrame will be overlayed on top of everything.

Does anyone have any advice as to what tools I should use or how I should approach this problem? I hope I've been able to clearly articulate my question.

Thanks for all the help

[g00se]

You need to install a mouse hook. See

http://stackoverflow...-jna-mouse-hook

[Codebug]

Thanks g00se! Thats what I was looking for, although it appears quite a bit more complicated than I had anticipated. Is there something similar that will also register keypresses? I guess a keyboard hook?

[g00se]

Quote

I guess a keyboard hook?

You guess right

[macosxnerd101]

While Keyloggers are not always malicious, this falls under the umbrella of spyware, which Dream.in.Code does not support. Therefore, I am closing this thread.