Make a Java application invisible to a user

Question

I'm trying to figure out a way to make a Java application invisible to the user.

Basically just trying to remove this

task bar icon <- Image

How can this be done?

public class TransparentWindow extends JFrame {

public TransparentWindow() {
    initComponents();
}

@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
private void initComponents() {
    setExtendedState(Frame.MAXIMIZED_BOTH);
    setResizable(false);
    setUndecorated(true);
    setDefaultCloseOperation(WindowConstants.DO_NOTHING_ON_CLOSE);
    setAlwaysOnTop(true);
    System.setProperty("sun.java2d.noddraw", "true");
    WindowUtils.setWindowTransparent(this, true);
    WindowUtils.setWindowAlpha(this, 0.6f);
}

public static void main(String[] args) {
    new TransparentWindow().setVisible(true);
}
}

If I recall correctly make the outermost window you show a JPanel instead of a JFrame. — Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen, Feb 21 '12 at 02:23
@ThorbjørnRavnAndersen I've edited my post with my current code. — Laszki, Feb 21 '12 at 02:30
This would be great for spyware and malware! What is your use-case for having an app. run on the client's computer without them being aware of it? — Andrew Thompson, Feb 21 '12 at 05:47
@AndrewThompson see here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9372362/transparent-click-through-always-on-top-jframe — Hauke Ingmar Schmidt, Feb 21 '12 at 06:04
@AndrewThompson Nooooo... just an assistent guide and quality monitoring system ;-). — Hauke Ingmar Schmidt, Feb 21 '12 at 06:20
@Andrew, let's hope that nobody tells the malware authors about languages other than Java! Then the flood gates would be open! — Julian Fondren, Feb 21 '12 at 06:30
@JulianFondren Fortunately, Java applets and applications delivered to clients using Java Web Start either cannot be set completely invisible, or require the user to explicitly authorize the app. to do 'anything' (again, hardly 'invisible'). — Andrew Thompson, Feb 21 '12 at 06:36

nIcE cOw · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-21T16:24:54.663

I just seems to have found the answer, just put the line setVisible(false); into comments and you will see the actual program, UNCOMMENT the line to see no trace is left, as far as I can see, that the Java Program is running somewhere, until you won't add the icon to your system tray, manually. Moreover how to remove your Application from Task Manager that question still remains, though you can remove the said icon, as pointed by you in your question.

import javax.swing.*;

public class TransparentWindow extends JFrame 
{
    public TransparentWindow() 
    {
        initComponents();
    }

    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
    private void initComponents() 
    {
        setExtendedState(JFrame.MAXIMIZED_BOTH);
        setResizable(false);
        setUndecorated(true);
        setDefaultCloseOperation(WindowConstants.DO_NOTHING_ON_CLOSE);
        setAlwaysOnTop(true);
        setOpacity(0.8f);
        setSize(200, 200);
        //System.setProperty("sun.java2d.noddraw", "true");
        //WindowUtils.setWindowTransparent(this, true);
        //WindowUtils.setWindowAlpha(this, 0.6f);
        setVisible(true);
        setVisible(false);

        JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(this, "It is working!", "Guess : ", JOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE); 
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) 
    {
        TransparentWindow tw = new TransparentWindow();
    }
}

Here is a snapshot of my desktop on running this program, see the taskbar

JAVA APPLICATTION

The screenshots shows legitimate uses for top-level windows without taskbar entries to the right. — Hauke Ingmar Schmidt, Feb 21 '12 at 16:09
@nIcEcOw Haha, you don't say? the design of Porsche is UNIQUE in the world. I even can detect it by its bumper. — , Mar 09 '14 at 16:31

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 21 '12 at 06:23

4

Extend from JWindow insted of JFrame. (I did not test this on Windows 7 as I don't sit in front of a Windows box right now. It worked for XP and works for Unity, which surprised me.)

answered Feb 21 '12 at 06:23

Hauke Ingmar Schmidt

11,559
1
42
50

+1 it does work with Windows 7, this gave me an answer, as to how to make widgets, hehe :-) – nIcE cOw Feb 22 '12 at 17:19

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 21 '12 at 05:46

3

As far as I know, there is no way to remove the task bar icon.

answered Feb 21 '12 at 05:46

Andrew Thompson

168,117
40
217
433

Make a Java application invisible to a user

3 Answers3

Linked