63 lines
3.3 KiB
Markdown
63 lines
3.3 KiB
Markdown
# dead-mans-switch
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A simple dead man's switch, set off using periodic script executions (using cron or systemd timers).
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## Dependencies
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`date`, any `mailx` provider (such as `s-nail`)
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## A simple what?
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Yes, you read that right. If you don't know what a dead man's switch is:
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In real life, it's a simple device that does an action when a button is no longer pressed.
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A dark example of this is often seen in TV series related to crime, where a hostage taker
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announces that they have a dead man's switch connected to a bomb,
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therefore making a raid of the hostages' location impossible.
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However, this dead man's switch is not hooked up to a bomb. No, it serves a much more useful
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purpose. When it notices that you're dead, it will send a predefined message along with it,
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as well as potentially one or more attachments, to one or more recipients via email.
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## How does it work?
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First, you set up the script `dms-update.sh` somewhere (with a changed path, if needed).
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Afterwards, you run either run it manually every once in a while, or launch it in your bashrc.
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This will put the timestamp of your "last sign of life" into a file everytime it is run.
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Now the script `dms.sh` comes into play, which also has to be set up somewhere.
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This one can be run by a cronjob, possibly being run every few hours or so.
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It should be edited before being placed as a cronjob, updating all appropriate paths, names and email addresses.
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If the script detects that the "last sign of life" has become old, an email will be sent out to you in order to
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warn you that the dead man's switch will set off in 24 hours. This is to prevent accidentally setting the switch off.
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After the warning period passes, the switch will be set off and email all configured addresses with the predefined message and attachments.
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It will also send an info to yourself that the switch has been set off, in case you are, in fact, still alive.
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## Why did you make this?
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Some people I told about this project thought I might be suicidal or scared of being murdered by someone.
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**This is not the case.**
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I simply want to make sure that my infrastructure and other stuff is not left running unmaintained for too long if something happens to me.
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I also want to easily make my personal files available to my loved ones in such a case.
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As such, my setup is that the predefined message is a message giving info about the switch's purpose,
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what likely happened to me and instructions on how to proceed with the attached files.
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The first attached file is an encrypted message, the decryption key of which the recipients received beforehand.
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The second attached file is a password manager database.
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## If this was for you, why did you publish this?
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That's because all the other "dead man's switch" repositories I've found online simply didn't fit my needs.
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I can't imagine I'm the only one that needs this project, so it's licensed under the WTFPL. Enjoy!
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## Donate
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You feel like being generous or want to support me on stuff like free software development and hosting mirrors? In that case, I accept:
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- Monero
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`41jTvCnAwb12dicZgsneqAXAKeQqA8PEw1xwuWUb41iRHbxf9aFy3MqPZHxpJE4bdbfYevaXz8anp33prrPx7wXS4vvjYp2`
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(OpenAlias: `donatexmr.kescher.at`)
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- Liberapay:
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[![Liberapay donate button](https://liberapay.com/assets/widgets/donate.svg)](https://liberapay.com/kescher/donate)
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- Ko-Fi:
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[Donate using Ko-Fi](https://ko-fi.com/kescher)
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