Database Info

Ensure Unrooted Device

I am working on a mobile application that is subject to certain regulatory requirements. Because of this, I'm a required to detect on start-up of my application if there is any possibility that the phone has been rooted. If so, I must completely disable the application and not allow it to start up at all.
I've seen many methods to detect a rooted phone, however none seems very definitive especially if you were trying to hide that you had rooted it.
I do have the ability to store the approved devices (and possibly associated IDs) in some external database and retrieve it at application startup.
Are there any systems properties that can't be "spoofed" with a rooted device or possibly some other method to definitively determine if a device has been rooted that are at least nearly "unhackable"?

As I understand it, the semi-definitive definition of a rooted phone is one with su.exe available. But, this would be very easy to hack.
The closest I can think of would be to calculate the md5sum of files in /system. Perhaps the md5sum of *all* files in /system or the md5sum of the whole filesystem. Then, compare this to a list of known-good values for the OS version and device.
This would require all "official" versions of the OS for *all* supported devices to be pre-calculated and stored somewhere. And further require that the storage of those values couldn't be faked. If they were on the phone, they could be swapped-out by a malicious user.
This could still be hacked, but it would be a whole level of magnitude harder than most approaches.
To be honest, such a requirement sounds like an app who's security needs are high enough that you might not want to allow it to be installed on generic hardware.
Would you have a similar requirement if the app were deployed on Windows? I don't think it's a solvable problem there at all.

Actually you're suggestion is probably very sound. Because of the regulatory concerns, we have to know exactly what devices we're supporting and we can store the MD5 sums on a server or actually we could store it inside our application and MD5 sum that as well (that would pretty much ensure they couldn't change it). Even if it was possible to install the app on a new device, we need to make sure it's approved.
Do you have any idea how we could run an MD5 sum on a non-rooted Android device on the /system folder programmatically?
We're not planning on supporting any Windows devices at any point in the near future, so that's not really a concern.

I haven't had a non-rooted Android phone since a couple days after buying my G1. But, I suspect the md5sum executable is there. Although, for your need, you would need to verify that the md5sum executable itself was unmodified.
You could probably use dd to stream the raw filesystem through md5sum. It's been too long since I played around at that level to give you detailed directions. I'd look into dd and md5sum via google.
Like I said, you'd still need to confirm those two executables were unmodified. Maybe do one of a: bundle your own copy of them or b: implement the md5sum algorithm in your app.

[Q] android App path

I have installed an Android Application which was developed by the friend of mine. It had installed on my Android phone (HTC G2, with Android 2.2). I need to locate the application forlders, and especially SQLite database which was created along with the application, because I need to copy it to my PC. I did seach on SD card but I did not found it, so I assume it must be on the device RAM, but I really don't know the structure and how the apps are organized. I might suspect the SQLites data filename, but that all I know at the moment.
Can somebody pint me to some utility which will allow to find the database, and the application path, and most of all to copy it to the PC ???
Thanks - Arthur

The database and any other "data" used by the app will be located in /data/data/ then inside a directory that corresponds to the app's package name. If we use the Kindle app as an example, the path to it's data would be: /data/data/com.amazon.kindle

unfortunately I checked this foldeor on RAM as well as SD and couldn't find it. device /data folder is empty, and SD gas some other stuff bot not this App.

aklisiewicz said:
unfortunately I checked this foldeor on RAM as well as SD and couldn't find it. device /data folder is empty, and SD gas some other stuff bot not this App.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I should have also said, you need to be rooted in order to see the contents of the /data directory. Without root access, it will be shown as empty because you do not have permission to view or modify. If your phone is rooted, you can use Root Explorer, Terminal Emulator, or adb to access /data and copy, modify, create, or delete files there.

Thank you for your time. That would explain why I do not see it.
OK, I have HTC G2 from T-Mobile, I think it has Android 2.2
Nothing was changed or updated on this phone since I bough it last fall. I'm not with T-Mobile anymore so I do not wat to mess up with the phone unless I'm really sure what am I doing. The only nice thing is that the phone is unlocked now. The reason I ask those questions is because I am working on some tool, which is a desktop program wchich supposed to sync SQLite data from device to the PC.
What I want to do is to connect the device through USB cable, then have it mapped is it normally does (i.e. drive H. Then access the SQLite file from the desktop application by opening the database through that link and syncing the records. Not sure but I hope this approach would work. If it cannot work that way then eventually I want to copy the SQLite dB file to the PC sync database and then copy it back to the device. I already have a desktop App which work on SQLite localy so now I want to access the device, having the same dB file residing on my android phone instead on my local HD.
What could be the reason that the installed APP doesn't want to move to SD ???
I would appreciate any suggestions...
What is required to root the phone? I've herd there are some risks. Besides I probably have to find some other solutions as none of the App users would want to root their devices (or have a knowledge how to do it).

aklisiewicz said:
Thank you for your time. That would explain why I do not see it.
OK, I have HTC G2 from T-Mobile, I think it has Android 2.2
Nothing was changed or updated on this phone since I bough it last fall. I'm not with T-Mobile anymore so I do not wat to mess up with the phone unless I'm really sure what am I doing. The only nice thing is that the phone is unlocked now. The reason I ask those questions is because I am working on some tool, which is a desktop program wchich supposed to sync SQLite data from device to the PC.
What I want to do is to connect the device through USB cable, then have it mapped is it normally does (i.e. drive H. Then access the SQLite file from the desktop application by opening the database through that link and syncing the records. Not sure but I hope this approach would work. If it cannot work that way then eventually I want to copy the SQLite dB file to the PC sync database and then copy it back to the device. I already have a desktop App which work on SQLite localy so now I want to access the device, having the same dB file residing on my android phone instead on my local HD.
What could be the reason that the installed APP doesn't want to move to SD ???
I would appreciate any suggestions...
What is required to root the phone? I've herd there are some risks. Besides I probably have to find some other solutions as none of the App users would want to root their devices (or have a knowledge how to do it).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Took me a bit to get back to you but figure better late than never...
Here is a good FAQ on rooting among other things specific to the G2(the US variant of the Desire Z). In order to root your G2, this guide looks to be good as he's simplified and automated a good bit of the process, should be safe, and seems to work. You'll need to install the two apps he mentions in step 1 and download the zip file he mentions in step 2 which is attached at the bottom of the post then just follow the instructions.
As for the database stuff, if you end up needing to access the /data directory you'll have to be rooted. Also, moving the app to the sdcard won't really help you with having access to the app's files. Froyo built-in App2SD just moves the apk file to a hidden directory on /sdcard (.android_secure) but the app data, cache and all that stuff will still be on internal memory. But to answer why the app won't move to the sd card, I'm guessing it's because the app itself must allow for it to be moved since by default, an app doesn't have this enabled unless the app dev gives it that ability.
To communicate with the phone, even with root access, you'll probably have to do so through adb commands or use an adb shell to be able to run shell commands on the phone. This would require adb be set up on the user's computer. If you want to play around with adb, there's a nice guide called ADB for Noobs that goes through setting it up and starting out using it. I can't say I've really done anything with SQLite databases on Android and certainly not then syncing it to a computer so I could be off-base or overlooking a workaround.

Thank you for your valuable information. You guys are really great help, and I appreciate your time. I will study the links provided.
In the meantime my main concern is to access SQLite database, as I need to get to the records, or at least be able to copy it back and forth between device an PC. I guess the database file would be something like MyDatabase.db , but I have no cule how to find it and copy it. As you have said it might be in some system protected directory. The main issue is that I will ne a solution which would work on every standard device (no the rooted one), so I need something very easy for the user to setup and follow. I have seen a utility that allow to manipulate SQLite records directly on device, but again thsi tools requires to root the phone (which I'm reluctant to do) because ot the above reasons. If you could help my to resove this I would be very graceful!
Arthur

aklisiewicz said:
Thank you for your valuable information. You guys are really great help, and I appreciate your time. I will study the links provided.
In the meantime my main concern is to access SQLite database, as I need to get to the records, or at least be able to copy it back and forth between device an PC. I guess the database file would be something like MyDatabase.db , but I have no cule how to find it and copy it. As you have said it might be in some system protected directory. The main issue is that I will ne a solution which would work on every standard device (no the rooted one), so I need something very easy for the user to setup and follow. I have seen a utility that allow to manipulate SQLite records directly on device, but again thsi tools requires to root the phone (which I'm reluctant to do) because ot the above reasons. If you could help my to resove this I would be very graceful!
Arthur
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless there is some trick I don't know about you are going to have to be rooted to get access to the database. I found a couple links discussing this: here and here. The second link does mention that the app with the database you want to access could be written to store the database on the sdcard where it would then be accessible but that would be unsecure since anything could read/modify it there.

Thanks, looks like I have to do more research on my own. It is hard to believe for me that Google would not allow to access the same database from different Apps. I've seen there is a Java class ContentProvider which seems to allow that, so I will study this, perhaps it will help. Thank for you help.
Arthur

Possible to Replace a System File without Rooting?

I am a NOOB, but I like myself just fine. The video for NOOBs is funny, but IMHO, should be a bit more serious.
I'm one of those people experiencing issues with GPS and TTFF being excessively long on the MT. Cry.
If I run MyPhoneExplorer, I can see the system file structure, and I believe I can move files to the phone. I believe I can do the same with SwiFTP.
Can one drop replacement GPS libraries for example into the SYSTEM and SYSTEM/HW sub-directories using a program like MPE, or an FTP program like SwiFTP without rooting, and would they be honored on the next reboot?
Would I be mangling some check-sum or other that determines the integrity of the system loaded?
I'm one of those users that doesn't really want to root if not necessary, but I wonder if doing some mod like the above - would doing so lay subsequent update pushes from VMUSA to waste?
Also, I'd really like if possible to flag some programs not to load, unless I explicitly ask them to load via the U.I. with intent. I suppose I'd have to root to do something like that. Perhaps with Ginger-Break? Would doing this make subsequent updates problematic?
Any information regarding my constraints and options to effect both of the above would be very appreciated. Thanks.

There are ways to mount the various partitions from a host machine (e.g. Linux) while it is in the "emergency" flash mode, which would permit what you want to do. Doing this is quite dangerous - at least as much as rooting the device and perhaps more-so.

I appreciate the response.
OK, if I were to root via Gingerbreak and install the files that way, then un-root, would my system then appear to be (to an update provided by Motorola or VMUSA) as something which couldn't be updated?
In other-words would rooting put me on a path to having to use specially modified updates?
Thanks.

Depends on what you change.
In GENERAL no, the update will come through. The major risk is that it crashes on install as some part of what you changed is a dependency but is not reloaded. This is rare, but can happen.
So.... root, install Clockwork, and make an immediate Nandroid backup BEFORE you screw with anything. That SHOULD allow you to un-hose yourself if you get in trouble.

making an app for small file transfer to specific device

I tried to make the subject as small as possible while still stating my point.
Basically I work with a device a lot that runs some machinery. There is a file that is sometimes updated to run the machinery better, we usually update the file on the device when some aspects of the equipment are changed. The file is pushed onto the device using software on my laptop. The software on the laptop is written in C++. I want to make a light version to run on my android phone.
My idea is to create a simple program to run on my android phone that will push the file onto the device after it's edited for changes to the equipment. I opened the C++ exe program in a decompiler (rec4) and I started trying to dig through the code, there are soooo many lines of code in this program, and I don't even know what string to look for. I'm trying to find the exact string that pushes the file to the string so I will know how to write the exact thing in an android program language for my phone only to push the file to the device after I plug it in through the USB connection. That way I have a simplified version of the program running on my phone solely for pushing the file to the device, instead of carrying my laptop around all the time to push a little file.
In a nutshell, after I have described why I need this, I'll simplify everything. A program I have is written in C++ and it pushes a simple file to the flash memory of a device that runs some equipment. I want to be able to push the file from my phone instead of my laptop. So I want to know the string to look for that would push a file onto flash memory.
How the program works. If I have the program already running when I plug in the USB, I have to select "file", then "establish connection" so that it connects, The program appears on my laptop to reconfigure it. I search for the new file to replace the old one and send it to the device. By default the program tries over COM1. It has to be changed for my laptop because it's new and doesn't have the com1 connection, I have a USB adapter that I use.
I hope I explained this well enough, it's really not as complicated as I'm making it out to be.
So does anyone know where I can look up the C++ command arguments to push the file onto the device? And also what the command arguments would be for android to push the file onto the device via USB?

Hello,
If you are a developer you might want to look at this link:
http://developer.android.com/reference/android/hardware/usb/package-summary.html
If you aren't, I am afraid this isn't going to be as simple as looking for strings in a decompiled program and translating the code to different languages. You might want to get a developer to make this application for you.
If possible can you also give more info on this device? Is it like you plug in the device to your laptop and you can access it like any USB memory drive? Or the device can only be accessed using that program?
Edit:
The android.hardware.usb was apparently introduced in Android 3.1. So you won't be able to use that to make an application that you described for your phone...

The device basically controls an advanced machine with multiple inputs sensors and output and switches. It has it's own power supply, it just needs updating every now and then to refine/change the cycles and rotations. I contacted the company that makes the device, and they said they haven't made any software to run on android. They couldn't give me any information on how the laptop program communicates with the device. It seems like the file that needs editing is just stored back on the device in flash memory. When the laptop is plugged in and a connection is established, the information that makes up the configuration file appears on the laptop program from the device. I don't know if the program pulls and reads the file, or if the device copies it to the laptop. It's probably the laptop that reads it.
I'm not a developer, I know a little about programming from college, and I have enough patience to sit and read or watch videos until I know how to make something that works. I know a guy that talks a lot about making android programs, maybe I can ask him for pointers.
My android phone has a mini USB port, what's the new thing that's in android 3.1 that's not in my 2.2 regarding USB? Is the USB on the android 2.2 limited in what it can do? I know mine can tether and transfer files, but is that something that the computer does instead of the phone?
I'm trying to find another HTC HD2, I sold mine and I shouldn't have. I've heard a little about people putting android 3.1 on the HD2, I'm not sure if that's true, but I'll look more into it.

If its a file that the device is reading the data from, you'd also have to find out how the data is exactly being stored in the file. I guess this could be figured out through the decompiled program or maybe if you can access the file yourself somehow.
The thing is that the package(android.hardware.usb) that allows you to write applications in which your phone can act as a USB host(I guess this is what you want your phone to behave like in this case) was introduced in Android 3.1 and its not present in Android 2.2.
That doesn't necessarily mean that you cannot have such an application on your phone. It just means that you cannot use the Android Java API to make something like this. I am not too sure how it can be done but I guess it is possible to make an application like the one you want that runs on a rooted phone maybe?
I am sure anyone can learn to write programs/applications but its just that you'd have to put in a lot of time and effort to make something like this. If you are in no rush to have the application ready then its fine if you learn to make it yourself. And since its a custom made application and the people who made it aren't willing to help you by giving info on it just makes it that much harder for you.

yeah, when I get another HD2 it's getting rooted with android, I just have to find one. Since I sold mine they have made it to where you can run android off of internal memory, so I'm itching to get it back.
The laptop program also has the option to save the configuration file locally, I haven't thought about looking through that. I didn't think it would tell me much.
So theoretically, if I were to write a program for the android phone with usb transfer capability to the device in question would it work? It doesn't bother me if I have to root my phone.

If the device is reading data in from the file, and you wish to write a program that creates this file, you will have to take care that the program you are making writes the file in very same format and saves the file back in the same location on the device where it will look for this file later.
If you made this application for an android device that has USB Hosting capabilities, it should work (as far as I know).
The question is: How can you get your phone to have USB Hosting capability? I don't know if rooting your phone would do it. You'll have to find out about this.

I'm not creating the file..I just want to make a program to push the file.

Save WhatsApp Conversation

Hello!
I have a question regarding WhatsApp. Is there a possibility to save WhatsApp conversations/history? Through any homebrew-App?
I searched through Google and XDA, didn't find anything useful, unfortunately.
Thanks in advance.
Greetings,
Crash1k

You need to copy out the Isolated Storage for the app. There are a few tools that can do this, including any filesystem browser (such as WP7 Root Tools). An easy way to get the file(s) from your phone to the PC would be my Root Webserver app; find the App GUID of WhatsApp and go to http://<PHONE_IP>/FileSystem/Applications/Data/<APP_GUID>/Data on the PC while the phone runs the webserver app.

Thanks for your fast answer.
Since I'm pretty new to this homebrew-and-phoneHacking thing I don't have much of a clue how to work with those programs. I have downloaded "HtcRootWebServer_231.zip" and the ".xap" file, but I don't know how to get started. Are there any instructions online, perhaps on your homepage, if you have one?
Thanks again.

Oh boy... okay, I assumed you'd already be familiar with dev-unlock at least, so this is going to be a bit complicated. First of all, what phone do you have? On some phones, you won't even be able to run the app because of restrictions that we don't know how to get past.
The summary:
To install an app to the phone from a XAP file, your phone needs to be developer-unlocked. There are a few ways to do this, including an official one from Microsoft (though that costs money unless you're a student). To deploy the apps, you'll probably want to download the Windows Phone SDK from Microsoft as it has all the tools.
To use high-privilege apps, you'll need your phone to be "interop-unlocked" which you can read about on XDA-Devs. Not all phones can currently be interop-unlocked, though many can.
Once your phone is IUed, install the webserver and also WP7 Root Tools v0.9. Use the Root Tools to mark the Webserver app as "Trusted"; this will give it the permissions it needs (it has its own permission elevation code, but I'm almost sure your phone isn't compatible).

if your phone is unlocked:
install wmdc by ultrashot, then, connect it to wmdc, then browse <YOUR WP NAME>\\Applications\Data\218A0EBB-1585-4C7E-A9EC-054CF4569A79 then copy everything from it

GoodDayToDie said:
Oh boy... okay, I assumed you'd already be familiar with dev-unlock at least, so this is going to be a bit complicated. First of all, what phone do you have? On some phones, you won't even be able to run the app because of restrictions that we don't know how to get past.
The summary:
To install an app to the phone from a XAP file, your phone needs to be developer-unlocked. There are a few ways to do this, including an official one from Microsoft (though that costs money unless you're a student). To deploy the apps, you'll probably want to download the Windows Phone SDK from Microsoft as it has all the tools.
To use high-privilege apps, you'll need your phone to be "interop-unlocked" which you can read about on XDA-Devs. Not all phones can currently be interop-unlocked, though many can.
Once your phone is IUed, install the webserver and also WP7 Root Tools v0.9. Use the Root Tools to mark the Webserver app as "Trusted"; this will give it the permissions it needs (it has its own permission elevation code, but I'm almost sure your phone isn't compatible).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for your help, and I'm sorry you had to write this much. I already know how to deploy .xap's and these things, but I have no clue when it comes to the Webserver and how to find the conversations with that. I'll try this for now. I appreciate your help and effort.
aramadsanar said:
if your phone is unlocked:
install wmdc by ultrashot, then, connect it to wmdc, then browse <YOUR WP NAME>\\Applications\Data\218A0EBB-1585-4C7E-A9EC-054CF4569A79 then copy everything from it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this the same method as the one GoodDayToDie explained?
Thanks for your answer!
//Edit:
I tried it like you, GoodDayToDie, told me. I downloaded your HtcRootWebServer_231.xap and HtcRootWebServer_231.zip. (even though I have a Samsung Omnia 7 with windowbreak unlock (I think that's interop unlock, don't know for sure though)). Then I deployed the .xap, opened the App in the phone but didn't know what to do with the numbers and text fields (like what kind of Admin name and password I should fill in...). After I gave up on the phone-part, I tried to work with the .zip file, but I don't know what to do next. There are 2 folders, one is called "Homebrew" the other "WebServer", I tried to open the programs which are placed in the subfolders (I opened both with Microsoft Visual Studio Solution) but I only get an error and it won't show anything.
Do you know where the problem is? (aside from my lack of knowledge of course :/ )
Thanks for your help.

Crash1k said:
Thanks a lot for your help, and I'm sorry you had to write this much. I already know how to deploy .xap's and these things, but I have no clue when it comes to the Webserver and how to find the conversations with that. I'll try this for now. I appreciate your help and effort.
Is this the same method as the one GoodDayToDie explained?
Thanks for your answer!
//Edit:
I tried it like you, GoodDayToDie, told me. I downloaded your HtcRootWebServer_231.xap and HtcRootWebServer_231.zip. (even though I have a Samsung Omnia 7 with windowbreak unlock (I think that's interop unlock, don't know for sure though)). Then I deployed the .xap, opened the App in the phone but didn't know what to do with the numbers and text fields (like what kind of Admin name and password I should fill in...). After I gave up on the phone-part, I tried to work with the .zip file, but I don't know what to do next. There are 2 folders, one is called "Homebrew" the other "WebServer", I tried to open the programs which are placed in the subfolders (I opened both with Microsoft Visual Studio Solution) but I only get an error and it won't show anything.
Do you know where the problem is? (aside from my lack of knowledge of course :/ )
Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, it goes to one objective, but in a simpler method

Eh, WebServer doesn't require installing anything on the PC, WPDM doesn't (directly) require installing anything on the phone. In both cases, you'll need to have WP7 Root Tools installed.
For WPDM + TouchXperience:
Install Windows Phone Device Manager from TouchXperience.com.
Start Zune and connect your phone.
Start WPDM and wait for it to install the TouchXperience app on the phone.
Open WP7 Root Tools v0.9 and go to the Policy pivot.
Mark TouchXperience as "Trusted" and exit Root Tools.
Open TouchXperience (and WPDM on the PC, if you closed it) and connect them.
Either do what @aramadsanar suggested, or use the Installed Apps feature of WPDM to make a backup.
For Root Webserver:
Install Root Webserver (the XAP; the ZIP file is the source code); you already did this.
Open WP7 Root Tools v0.9 and go to the Policy pivot.
Mark "Webserver (HtcRoot)" as Trusted and close Root Tools.
Connect the phone to WiFi (on the same network as your PC) and launch the webserver app.
Set a username and password you can remember ("admin" and "root" for example, though that's insecure).
On the PC, open a web browser and go to the phone's IP address, then drill down into the FileSystem like I said (aramadsanar gave you the app's GUID).
Download the files from the Isolated Storage to your PC, and save them somewhere.

Thanks a LOT for those great instructions, GoodDayToDie! That's really nice, thanks for your effort.
I tried the WebServer method since I didn't want to install Windows Phone SDK 7.1, but I didn't manage to get into my phone through the browser (by typing the I.P. of the phone, which is listed on the Webserver App, just as you said), that's why I was forced to use the other way. Well, who cares, it worked! I have my messages file, but the next problem shows up. I can open the file with the Editor, but it shows weird symbols and you can't read the messages actually. I tried many other programs but none work. Do you guys know how to open those files? The ending is ".sdf". I google'd it for nearly two hours, couldn't find anything useful.
Thanks for the help so far.

You used the WiFi address of the phone, right? The WWAN (cellular) connection is almost certainly firewalled. For example, on my home network the router usually gives my phone IP address 192.168.0.73 on WiFi, so I type in "http://192.168.0.73" into the browser on my PC. It'll ask for username and password; give it what you put on the phone.
As for the file contents, I can't help there. They might be encrypted, in which case the crypto key is somewhere but might be hard to find. Or they might be compressed, in which case you need to find a decoder for that compression. Either one would produce files that appear to be meaningless binary to a casual glance.
One thing you could try for the compressed file possibility is tell 7-Zip to open the file. It's usually very good at recognizing compressed formats. If it's encrypted, you'll probably need to decompile WhatsApp to figure out how. If WhatsApp is obfuscated, you're going to be in a tough spot.
By the way, I assume you downloaded the messages file directly, rather than using the data backup function of WPDM, right?
Hmm... what do you need these files for? If it's just for backup, what you have is *probably* sufficient, so long as you grabbed *all* the files from the IsolatedStorage.

Yeah, I used the WiFi address which is listed on the WebServer App, and I typed that IP Address just like you said into my browser, with "http://" etc., but it still didn't work. It doesn't even ask me for any password or username.
I don't think they are compressed, because I already tried to open/extract them with 7zip, all I got was an error because of the incompatibility. The other thing is, that when I open the files with the "Editor", I can see my messages there, but there are many many other symbols there, which makes it impossible to read the messages. They are too wide spread and you can't tell which messages belong together etc.
Even though I have no idea how to "decompile" WhatsApp, I won't ask you to tell me, since it sounds pretty complicated. I hope there is another way to solve this problem.
Yes, I simply saved the file on my Desktop, didn't use the BackUp function.
That's right, they're "just" for backup, and I didn't grab just the IsolatedStorage folder, I took the whole "Data" folder, just like aramadsanar told me to.
Thanks again for your fast and detailed answer.

If the wifi address didn't work, either your phone was not on WiFi (did the address start with 169.254.?) or your PC was not on WiFi or even connected to the same WiFi network. You can (in theory; I've never tried) also connect to the phone over wired Ethernet by plugging in the phone to the PC with its USB cable, and running Zune on the PC. That will add an ethernet entry to the phone IP list, but I don't know if it can be used for server ports from the PC.
There are a number of free apps for decompiling managed (.NET) code. The latest version of .NET RAIN, distributed right here on XDA-Devs, can do it, for example. Decompiling turns the intermediate-language binary code in a managed DLL or EXE file into C# or VB.NET or whatever. It's not a perfect reversal; the decompiler has to guess what the original source code looked like, and of course comments are missing. It's good enough to read pretty easily, though.
It sounds like what you have is probably a database file of some kind. There are only a few database formats available for WP7 apps (a few more can be accessed using native code).