Course 25 - API Python Hacking | Episode 3: From ctypes Basics to Building a Process Killer

In this lesson, you’ll learn about:

• Interfacing Python with Windows API using ctypes
  • Loading core DLLs: user32.dll and kernel32.dll
  • Executing basic functions like MessageBoxW
  • Mapping C-style data types (e.g., LPCWSTR, DWORD) to Python equivalents
• Error Handling and Privileges
  • Using GetLastError to debug API failures
  • Common errors such as "Access Denied" (error code 5)
  • Understanding how token privileges and administrative rights affect process interactions
• ProcKiller Project Workflow
  1. Find Window Handle: FindWindowA
  2. Retrieve Process ID: GetWindowThreadProcessId with ctypes.byref
  3. Open Process with Privileges: OpenProcess using PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS
  4. Terminate Process: TerminateProcess
• Professional Practices
  • Documenting code thoroughly
  • Uploading projects to GitHub to build a professional portfolio
• Key Outcome
  • Mastery of Python-to-Windows API integration, robust error handling, and creating scripts that can manipulate processes programmatically.