Forgot to turn off your computer before you left work? Guiding Tech has a guide to shutting down Windows remotely using Outlook.
There are lot of ways to control your computer from afar, but Outlook is a trusty alternative if you have a work computer that’s a bit more locked down.
Essentially, the process involves creating a batch script that shuts down your computer, then setting up a simple email filter that runs the batch script when it receives an email with certain content. So, you could email yourself with the words “shut down now” in the subject line and trigger the shutdown script at your work PC.
We haven’t been able to test this one ourselves, so head on over to Guiding Tech’s full how-to below to see how it’s done.
How to Shutdown Windows Computer Remotely Using Outlook [Guiding Tech]
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One response to “Shut Down Windows Remotely With An Outlook Filter”
I’ve never considered outlook as a penetration vector, but that’s definitely an interesting use of it. You could put together some terrible-yet-fun automation systems this way.
The use case he mentions – the one where he’s left his computer running and wont be back for a few hours – is served pretty well by the built-in sleep/hibernate windows options. I’m guessing there’s an unmentioned reason he needs the flexibility to leave it running sometimes.
My office… leave it running with Word open and a stapler on the space bar so I’m ‘active’ on Lync. Leave 30 mins early, email myself the shutdown command at normal ‘go home’ time.