Web Based Email Checking (HotMail)

[Koya]

Hi,

How can i check HotMail Email using Vb coding?

Thanks, any help will do...

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Thanks..
regards
Koya

[Bart]

You can't!
As you said: Hotmail is webbased. It can't be accessed using a pop server, unless you pay for it.

[Koya]

Hi,
There are some programs on WinFiles and other places that can access HotMail, ICQ Mail,Excit Mail, and many other Web Based Email accounts.

I think they connect to an Http server instead and do some parsing! How do they do that?

Thanks let me know. that is what I am trying to do... :)

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Thanks..
regards
Koya

I'm glad you're not ready to give up Koya. It seems possible to me.
If anything, it looks like you'd have to implement an https (secure http) and post to the hotmail cgi script. Winsock and Inet should be able to do the POST, but I've never tried https with them.
Look at the following FORM ACTION:
<form name="passwordform" action="https://lc3.law5.hotmail.passport.com/cgi-bin/dologin" method="POST" target="_top" >

But hotmail can reject your POST based on CGI environment variables that are set (exposing the fact that you are using vb instead of a browser).

[Koya]

Thanks for replying.

I would very much like to know how to implement this using whatever way in VB.

Do you have any idea?

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Thanks..
regards
Koya

Outlook Express manages it. I don't know exactly how, but it does connect to the following ASP pageto do it:

http://services.msn.com/svcs/hotmail/httpmail.asp

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Matthew Ralston
E-Mail: m.ralston@mediavault.co.uk
ICQ:31422892 (http://www.thebluelink.cjb.net/icq.html)
Web Sites:The Blue Link (http://www.thebluelink.cjb.net) My Home Page (http://mralston.cjb.net)

[Wes]

Hey Koya,

matthewralston was right, hotmail does use the "http://services.msn.com/svcs/hotmail/httpmail.asp" URL for form input...you would probably have to look at a form from another web site like msn.com, where you can log into hotmail...look at the form there and see what the names of the form variables are (like <.input type="textbox" name="username"> ) <--- see the "name='username'"? you would have to some how submit the form with those variables, or else, like some1 else said, hotmail's CGI script(s) might recognize vb.

hope i wasnt TOO confusing!!

[wes]

[Gimpster]

I know for a fact that you can use a PC-based program (such as something you would create in VB) to access your Hotmail account. In fact, Microsoft has already done this. It's called MSN Instant Messenger (or something similar). But you probably want to integrate it with some other program, so this won't help a whole lot. But at least you know it's possible.

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Ryan

[Bart]

Koya, if you find out how to do this, please send me an email. Thanks!

( Bart.Hermans@vt4.net )

[Koya]

Hi,
Thanks for all your replys. I am still not able to do it ;(

if anyone else finds out please email me.

thanks alot...


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Thanks..
regards
Koya

[clubside]

I've been interested in doing this too, but am lazy. Your best bet: turn on HTTP logging in Outlook Express 5 so when you access your Hotmail account with it you can see all the http communication and emulate the same requests.

[vbsquare]

You could try an HTTP GET using the Inet control although you might need to perform a POST method. Check it out anyway to see if it works: http://www.vbsquare.com/internet/cgi/

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"To the glory of God!"

[sweetangelpk2]

Yes..this is the dream of many developers i know but unfortunately only few gurus have succeeded in the quest!!! And these gurus are too selfish to share their secrects ( I am talking about microsoft :-))
well seriously, there is a piece of code available in www.planetsourcecode.com which may give you enough idea where to go(search for hotmail)...Visual basic is never too easy when it comes to network programming ( i prefer java) but i think you can still give it a try...one more thing: i think most password-based services like yahoo and hotmail 'encrypt' password using some scheme..so its better if you open the www.hotmail.com file in an html editor and see what code is attached to the submit button...its complicated but do give it a try...
The html parsing works but its alot more complicated.
That is all i can say...good luck!!!!

[sweetangelpk2]

The first thing is login....................................Well you have to take care of the handling winsock control yourself. The next question arises is what to send.
The simplest way to find this out is first to login to msn messenger and click on the message link to open your inbox..if you look at the newly open browser window closely, you will notice that msn first load a local temp file in the window and then you are send to hotmail.
In my computer, this temp file has the following content:


<html>
<head>
<noscript>
<meta http-equiv=Refresh content="0; url=http://www.hotmail.com">
</noscript>
</head>

<body onload="document.pform.submit(); ">
<form name="pform" action="https://loginnet.passport.com/ppsecure/md5auth.srf?lc=1033" method="POST">

<input type="hidden" name="mode" value="ttl">
<input type="hidden" name="login" value="meloginidforhotmail">
<input type="hidden" name="username" value="myloginidforhotmail@hotmail.com">
<input type="hidden" name="sid" value="508">
<input type="hidden" name="kv" value="3">
<input type="hidden" name="id" value="3">
<input type="hidden" name="sl" value="1099">
<input type="hidden" name="rru" value="/cgi-bin/HoTMaiL">
<input type="hidden" name="auth" value="3QatwJILKJLJZYMP4XBCEHkemx3*KG7ycGY2PAY5n3tVQVihhYTN9yly4fJBzLj629JgM8xBsD4WvwBG!!A$$">
<input type="hidden" name="crefds" value="dd8dsfdfdse06092b56df3b8">
<input type="hidden" name="svc" value="mail">
<input type="hidden" name="js" value="yes">
</form></body>
</html>

i have changed the values of the fields. your file maybe different.
(look into your temp dir)
i have saved this file as a htm file. whenever i want to login to hotmail i open it and WOOSH ..i am there
;)
I am not sure if its going to help or not but i thought maybe it can give you enough clues to get started or maybe understand someone else code.
I hope this helps.

[Kings]

This thread is about 3 years old....:rolleyes::p

[sweetangelpk2]

hi,
well i knew that...but i added my response just because information is helpful when you need it. Time is not a barrier.
Most of the time, when i had some weird situation, i always end up looking at threads posted as early as 1995. so it does not matter to me!!
Thanks and have fun!

[-=R0ckAw4Y=-]

could someone please reply to my post posted in 1943, it was about the enigma encrypting algorithm ;) :D :P

cYa

[sweetangelpk2]

i could have if i was born then...i have no knowledge of technologies (if there were any noticable one) so sorry to dissapoint you!:D