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Question: Is there a way to collect any data (e.g. MAC addresses, installed devices, driver versions, etc.) from a PC by simply connecting an Arduino via USB to it, so that this PC can be clearly identified?

Background: Basically, I`m using an Arduino to send some text to a computer by emulating a keyboard, but I don´t want the text to be sent to any computer I connect the Arduino with. That is why I want the PC to be identified first.

To be clear: this should be done without having to install programs on the PC in the first place.

AstronAUT
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    No. The Arduino is a dumb device. It can only receive what you program the PC to send to it. – Majenko Aug 27 '16 at 13:50
  • Ok, but what if could find a way to direct the PC to send the data to me, by sending commands when emulating a mouse and or keyboard. – AstronAUT Aug 27 '16 at 13:56
  • Then you can possibly tell the PC to tell you things. As long as you already know what the PC is and what/how to instruct it to tell you the right things. – Majenko Aug 27 '16 at 14:15
  • @AstronAUT Yes, if you emulate the keyboard to send keystrokes to run a command (hardcoded or from a network share/trusted network location) you can select a command that reports the desired information to some network server. – nanofarad Aug 27 '16 at 14:49
  • http://stackoverflow.com/questions/31165217/avr-usb-detect-os – Gerben Aug 27 '16 at 14:57
  • How about a unique two part cable? Make it impossible to connect the Arduino to normal USB without the special adapter. – Mikael Patel Aug 27 '16 at 17:00
  • Is your USB on the PC generating a container ID? – spicetraders Aug 27 '16 at 23:20
  • http://arduino.stackexchange.com/q/1689/26072 May provide some ideas on connection of USB such a Leonardo's Class 1 serial. Another option is I2c to USB. – spicetraders Aug 28 '16 at 00:14
  • While not exactly the thing you're looking for, Gobetwino is a pretty sweet tool. You can emulate what you want your Arduino to do, so for prototyping and concept development it is probably what you want: http://mikmo.dk/gobetwino.html – Len Sep 06 '16 at 12:51

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No you cannot. Arduino communicates to pc via UART so there must be a host which can send or receive the data. You have to install software on the host computer which can send and receive data to the com port to which arduino is connected to.

jobinrjohnson
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