Remote access to a computer via the Internet. Remote administration programs are a hidden security threat
Ever since my work as a laboratory assistant in an information center, I have understood one important truth: “the less you work, the better you work.” Any human activity can be improved and even the most hated work can be made enjoyable. Imagine for a moment that you have one computer lab at your disposal. Its maintenance takes relatively little time. All problems that arise can be resolved on the spot simply by going to the appropriate computer.
But one fine day, the staff of equipment increases sharply from the usual fifteen PCs in your classroom to hundreds of computers scattered across several buildings. And now every new owner of a miracle box under his desk calls with the question “how to align a table in Excel?” After talking with such an individual for a couple of minutes and realizing that you need to help, you trudge up the stairs to the poor fellow’s office. Most likely, at first there will be not only a sign on the monitor screen that has moved down, but also a kilo of gingerbread cookies with an invigorating mug of tea. But soon even gingerbread will not be able to sweeten the constant running around, and the calls will cause an involuntary sigh. In such a situation, there are only two options. Find someone who will run for you or come up with a way to combat the blatant computer illiteracy of your employees while remaining within the walls of your office.
Download Radmin Server and Viewer
Remote Administrator is one of the programs for remote PC administration. Such software works on the client-server technology that is already familiar to us. The product is made in Russia and is distributed free of charge. That is, we have the opportunity to download a full-fledged version without limited functionality, which will work for 30 days. Then you should purchase it. You can also use torrents. In their open spaces you will definitely come across a repack from Alker; it works as stably as the licensed version. I’ll probably use the official trial version for this material.
Step 1. First, go to the website and click the big green button “Download 30-day trial version.”
Step 2. Then on the page that opens, click “Download Server+Viewer” in one archive.
Step 3. After the download is complete, we will unpack the installation files from the archive into a separate folder for convenience.
Installing and configuring Radmin Server
First, let's deal with the server part of the program. It is its installation on client PCs that allows us to manage them remotely.
Step 1. On the computer that we are going to manage, run the file rserv35ru.msi and in the first installation window click “Next”.
Step 2. We carefully read the license agreement, accept it and click “Next”.
Step 3. And finally the treasured “Install” button. Click on it and wait for the installation process to complete. During this process, the screen may blink periodically. Don't be alarmed, this is normal, drivers for video capture are just being installed.
Step 4. After the installation is complete, we will not uncheck the “Configure user access rights” checkbox. Click “Finish” and go directly to setting up the program.
Step 5. In the new window, select “Launch mode” and set the value to “Automatic”. This is necessary so that the program starts itself when the operating system is turned on.
Step 6. Then go to “Settings” and in the first tab “General Settings” we do not change anything. We just remember the port that is set by default by the program. We'll need it soon.
Step 7 In the “Miscellaneous” tab, check the “Load Mirror Driver at startup” checkbox. This is necessary so that the screen of the remote computer does not blink every time we connect and the user does not know about our presence. A very useful function for those who like to observe employees and do not want unnecessary suspicion on their part.
Step 8 We're done with the settings. Now let's move on to changing access rights. To do this, click “Access Rights” in the main menu and repeat the command in the window that opens.
Step 9 Until users are created, you cannot connect to this computer. In order to create users, click “Add” and enter the name under which we will log into the computer. As an example, I will create a user "admin".
Step 10 Now we need to give our user certain rights. And since this is an administrator, we will give him full access to the remote computer. Click “OK” in this and the next window.
Step 11 If you purchased the program from the developers or downloaded it from a torrent, then it will have another interesting feature. Namely, the “Advanced” button, which allows you to configure hiding the tray icon. When there is no tray icon, the user may not even know that this product is installed on the computer.
Step 12 This was the last step in setting up Radmin Server. Now we will restart the computer for our settings to take effect. After the reboot, go to “START-Control Panel-Network and Sharing Center-Change adapter settings” and right-click on the adapter with which the network connection is made. In the drop-down list, click on the “Status” item.
Step 13 In the next window, click “Information” and look at the IP address of the computer. It will be useful for us to log into this PC using Radmin. But only if this IP is permanently assigned to this computer, otherwise it is better to look at the DNS name.
Step 14 To view the computer name, go to “Start” and right-click on the “Computer” shortcut. In the window that opens, in the “Full name” line we see the name of our PC.
Great. Let's once again recall the information that we will soon need:
- Port for connecting to a remote computer: 4899
- Computer IP address: 192.168.0.51
- DNS computer name: win7
All of your data, except the port, will be different from mine. We have finished manipulating the remote machine. Let's start setting up the client part of the program (Radmin Viewer).
If Radmin Server must be installed on remote computers to which you are going to connect, then Radmin Viewer, on the contrary, is installed on your computer. It allows you to connect to all computers on your network on which the program server module is installed and configured. Let's not waste time. Let's start the installation.
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Step 1. On the administrator’s computer from which connections will be made, run the rview35ru.msi file and click “Next” in the first installation window.
Step 2. We accept the license agreement and click “Next”. In the next window, select “install the application for all users of this computer.”
Step 3. Click “Install” and wait for the installation of Radmin Viewer to complete.
Step 4. Fine. Now we need to make sure that our computer is on the same subnet as the remote PC. To do this, go to the already familiar path “START-Control Panel-Network and Sharing Center-Change adapter settings” and right-click on the adapter. In the drop-down list, click on “Status-Information” and look at the IP. The third digit between our computer and the remote computer must match; this is the subnet number. If everything is correct, then we move on.
Connection in “Management” mode
In this mode, all your mouse and keyboard manipulations are transferred to the remote computer. You get the opportunity to remotely control your desktop as if it were right in front of you.
Step 1. Go to “Start” and launch “Radmin Viewer 3”. In the main program window, click “Connection-Connect with...”.
Step 2. In the “IP address or DNS name” line, enter the IP address of the remote computer (in my case 192.168.0.51) and click “OK” and try to connect to the computer in the “Management” mode.
Step 3. In the window that appears, enter the username and password (those set on the remote station). And holding our breath, click on “OK”.
Step 4. The next moment we gain access to the desktop of the remote computer. We can perform any actions on it using the mouse and keyboard.
Connection in "View" mode
In this mode, you can observe all user actions, but do not interfere with the work process. Personally, I often use this mode. He has proven himself excellent in the educational process. When students work on their computers, they often have various questions. In order not to run to each of them, I simply open five Radmin windows on the laptop at the same time and, moving between them, give advice on completing the task.
Step 1. In the main window of the program, click on the already favorite “Connection-Connect with...” tab.
Step 2. Enter your usual username and password combination.
Step 3. And we see the screen of the remote computer. But we remember that this mode allows us only to look, but not to touch.
Connection in “File Transfer” mode
This mode is convenient because by connecting to a remote computer you have the opportunity to download any file from it or transfer your own. In this case, the user will not even feel any manipulation on your part. Another interesting feature is that files can be downloaded from any folders, not just from public ones. After all, we get access to all PC drives (except network drives, unfortunately).
Creating an Address Book
The Radmin address book allows us to save the computers to which we connect in a convenient format. Connections can be distributed into convenient folders based on the structural divisions of the organization. We will not dwell on the address book in more detail. Let me just say that after you have created all the necessary connections and distributed them in the folder tree (on the left in the main Radmin Viewer window). We need to export our settings to a separate file, which we can open on any computer with Radmin Viewer.
Step 1. Click “Service-Export Address Book...”.
Step 2.Set the file name and select its location.
Step 3. We transfer the file to a USB flash drive and launch Radmin Viewer on another computer. Open “Service-Import Address Book...”.
Step 4. We select the address book and after a second we see that all our previously created computers have loaded. By the way, one more trick, if you click on the icon of the same name “Scanning servers in the current folder” (or the F5 hotkey), then on those PCs that are currently turned on, a check mark will appear indicating that the connection is ready.
A spoon of tar
Of the shortcomings noticed during the operation of this product, only three main ones can be identified. Although they are rather not shortcomings, but rather wishes to the developers to improve the program:
- When connected, the Aero style is reset to classic, which immediately tells an experienced user that someone is watching him (this can be solved by forcing the use of the classic Windows theme);
- There is no way to block the keyboard and mouse on a remote computer (and sometimes you really want to catch a student or employee doing something curious);
- Unfortunately, the program is only available for Windows.
Let's summarize. Radmin is great for remotely managing computers. The program is successfully used both to help employees and to modernize the educational process. It is also very convenient to administer the server. After all, if a remote access program is installed on the server, then there is no need for a regular monitor. Within the framework of this article, it was originally planned to talk about how to configure Radmin to connect over the Internet. Namely, do this by forwarding ports on the router. But then it was decided to make a separate material on this topic. So wait, friends.
For those who are interested in improving their professional qualifications, I recommend taking a free online test on the developers’ website. This will allow you to receive a certificate as a specialist in working with the Radmin software product, which can be printed and hung in a beautiful frame above your desk.
Denis Kurets was with you and the release of the information technology blog. Subscribe to updates. Write your comments and wishes. And may your path of knowledge be fast and successful!
class="eliadunit">Remote PC management programs are well known to any system administrator or technical support worker, since in their daily activities they are constantly faced with the task of administering servers and PCs of local network users. The most common utility for remote PC control is, of course, Remote Desktop Connection, included with the Windows operating system. This fact is explained not so much by its functionality, but by the fact that it is an integral part of the OS, and therefore does not need to be purchased separately. As for the functionality of this utility, in practice it is usually not enough, so specialized software packages from third-party manufacturers are often used. In this article we will look at specialized software packages designed for remote control of computers.
If we try to classify remote control programs, then they can be divided into two types: utilities that provide access to the desktop of a remote PC, and utilities that provide access to the command line of a remote PC. The first of them provide users with the ability to work with a remote PC in the same way as with a local one. Utilities of the second type allow you to automate the operation of the network by launching the same or different applications on several selected computers on the network, and also, for example, create a schedule for launching programs on remote PCs. It is completely pointless to try to compare these two types of utilities, since they are used in different situations and for different purposes.
Note that most remote control programs operate on the “client-server” principle, that is, they imply the presence of server and client parts of the program, which are respectively installed on the managed computer and on the PC from which control is performed. To gain control over a remote PC, it is necessary that the corresponding program module (server part) be running on it. Some remote management utilities allow you to install the server part remotely (if you have the appropriate administrative rights), and sometimes this procedure is completely transparent to the local PC user (usually, in this case, the server part is installed as a service on the remote PC). But some utilities require manual installation of the server part of the program.
In this article we will present to your attention remote control programs designed for use with Windows platforms. It should be noted that in the process of preparing the publication, we looked at several dozen utilities for remote PC control (fortunately, finding them on the Internet is not difficult). However, as it turned out, not all utilities are functional and generally deserve mention. Therefore, we will focus only on those of them that are truly functional and have been tested by us on a real local network.
Anyplace Control 3.3 (www.anyplace-control.com)
Anyplace Control 3.3 package belongs to the category of client-server applications.
The Host module is installed on the managed PC, and the Admin module of the program is installed on the PC from which control is performed. Of course, it is possible to install both modules simultaneously on any PC on the local network. But the most interesting thing is that the Anyplace Control 3.3 program provides the ability to remotely install the Host module on any computer on the local network. And all that is needed for this is to select a computer on the local network and start the procedure for remote installation of the Host module. Naturally, for this you need to have administrator rights.
Note that Anyplace Control 3.3 supports a Russian-language interface.
Anyplace Control 3.3 allows you to work in two modes: viewing and control. In the first mode, it is possible to display the desktop of a remote PC on the screen and observe the user’s actions, and in the control mode, it is possible to completely seize control of the remote PC. An interesting feature of the remote control mode is that the work of the user of the remote PC is not blocked. However, in both modes, the user of the remote PC receives a notification in the form of an icon in the system tray that his computer is “under the hood.”
To connect to a remote PC, you must first select it from the list. The built-in scanner allows you to display all computers on the local network (domain or workgroup), and you can configure the filter to display only PCs that already have the client part of the program installed, that is, those to which you can connect.
After selecting the computers to which you want to connect, they are added to the list and become available for remote control (Fig. 1).
Rice. 1. Anyplace main window
Control 3.3 with a displayed list of computers,
The undoubted advantage of this utility is that it allows you to remotely control several PCs simultaneously. In this case, it is possible to simultaneously execute commands such as shutdown, reboot and end of the user session on managed PCs.
To prevent unauthorized access to your PC during the installation of Anyplace Control 3.3, you can set an access password to the managed computer. Other interesting features of the program include setting up traffic encryption when remotely managing a PC and using a shared clipboard between the managed computer and the PC from which control is performed. True, it will not be possible to transfer pictures through this buffer, but text fragments are transferred without problems.
In conclusion, we note that the demo version of Anyplace Control 3.3 is valid for 30 days after installation. The price of the full version of the program depends on the number of PCs on which it is installed, at the rate of $17.5 per PC.
Access Remote PC 4.12.2 (www.access-remote-pc.com)
The Access Remote PC 4.12.2 utility also belongs to the category of client-server applications and allows you to intercept the desktop and gain full access to any PC where the server part of this program is installed from any other computer (Fig. 2). Note that the server part of the program is installed on the managed PC, and the client part is installed on the computer from which control is performed. When installing the server part of the program on computers that are subject to remote control, the user name for which remote control is authorized and the access password are specified.
Rice. 2. Transfer files between computers
in the Access Remote PC 4.12.2 utility
The Access Remote PC 4.12.2 program provides the ability to control computers both over a local network and over the Internet, and even through modem connections. When controlling a computer remotely, the work of the local user is not blocked, and the local user can find out that the computer is controlled from outside, as well as who exactly controls the computer, by the icon in the system tray. In addition, the server part of the program allows, if necessary, to disconnect all remote users from the PC, change passwords, and view statistics for each remote control session.
Access Remote PC 4.12.2 provides two operating modes: full control mode of the remote PC and monitoring mode.
The disadvantages of this utility include the impossibility of remote simultaneous control of several PCs using a single interface. However, you can simultaneously launch several connection sessions (each of them in its own window), and then you can control several remote computers. Another drawback of the program is the impossibility of remote installation of its server part.
The advantages of Access Remote PC include the fact that it can work with firewalls, supports dynamic IP addresses and, importantly, practically does not slow down even on slow network connections, including modem ones. In addition, this utility allows you to easily transfer files between computers, for which a special Transfer Files mode is provided (Fig. 2), and also supports working with the clipboard, that is, it allows you to synchronize clipboards on the local and remote PC, which simplifies the transfer of text messages. fragments between PCs. Another advantage of the program is support for encryption when transmitting data using the RC4 algorithm with a 160-bit key.
The free version of the program is fully functional, but the number of times it can be launched is limited - only 30 times.
LanHelper 1.61 (www.hainsoft.com)
LanHelper 1.61 (Fig. 3) is a small utility that allows you to automate the process of managing a local network.
Rice. 3. Main window of the LanHelper 1.61 utility
With its help, you can remotely shut down or reboot several computers on the network at the same time. You can run applications on remote PCs (if they support launching from the command line), and it also supports simultaneous launch of identical applications on a group of managed PCs.
The LanHelper utility has a built-in set of commands that can be executed on remote PCs (Fig. 4). In this case, it is possible to specify the time when the application starts and the time interval according to which applications are launched on the PC (minimum interval 1 minute). You can also schedule applications to run on remote PCs. The most important advantage of the program is that to implement all its capabilities, you do not need to install the client part on remote PCs.
Rice. 4. Remote command execution
simultaneously on several computers
using the LanHelper 1.61 utility
In addition to remote command execution, the LanHelper 1.61 utility allows you to view, start and stop various services on remote PCs (Fig. 5), as well as send messages to users (to implement this feature, you must activate the Messenger service on all PCs).
Rice. 5. Working with services on a remote PC
using LanHelper 1.61 utility
To implement the ability to launch applications and execute commands on remote PCs, you must have administrator rights.
The demo version of LanHelper LanHelper 1.61 has a limited validity period of 30 days, the license price is $49.95.
DameWare NT Utilities 5.5.0.2 (www.dameware.com)
The DameWare NT Utilities 5.5.0.2 software package is a powerful system for remote administration of a local network. It is based on a set of Microsoft Windows NT administration utilities, united by a very convenient single interface. Most of the utilities included in the package from the Microsoft Windows NT administration utilities set have advanced capabilities, and in addition, it contains a number of unique utilities. In particular, the package includes the DameWare Mini Remote Control utility, which allows you to fully control the desktop of a remote PC, as well as a utility for implementing command line mode on a remote PC.
When you launch the DameWare NT Utilities 5.5.0.2 package, the entire network is automatically scanned and all available domains and workgroups, as well as computers in the selected domain/workgroup are displayed in the main program window (Fig. 6).
Rice. 6. Main window of DameWare NT Utilities 5.5.0.2
Let's briefly list the capabilities of the DameWare NT Utilities 5.5.0.2 package: with its help you can view information about hard drives on remote PCs, get acquainted with the contents of the Event Log, view information about connected printers, running processes and services, installed applications, collect detailed information about PC configuration, receive service information about PCs activated by users and much more. There are also additional features: you can quickly edit the registry on a remote PC, send messages to users via the Messenger service, remotely shut down or restart computers and, as already mentioned, gain full control of the remote PC via the command line or desktop.
The undoubted advantage of this software package is that to implement remote control, you do not need to manually install the client part of the program on a remote PC. When you try to control a remote PC via the desktop or command line, DameWare NT Utilities 5.5.0.2 automatically prompts you to install and start the required service on the remote PC. In this case, the user of this remote PC will learn about the interception of control in a pop-up window, which displays information about which PC is being used for remote control.
The advantages of DameWare NT Utilities 5.5.0.2 include the ability to simultaneously connect to several computers to manage them, as well as the fact that remote control does not block the work of the local user.
Overall, this software package provides a powerful and user-friendly network management tool.
The demo version of the program is fully functional, but has a limited validity period of 30 days. The price of one license is $289. In addition, you can separately purchase the DameWare Mini Remote Control package for remote control of computers via the desktop, one license will cost $89.95.
Omniquad Instant Remote Control 2.2.9 (www.omniquad.com)
The current version of the Omniquad Instant Remote Control utility - 2.2.9 - is far from new, but it still remains one of the best in its class.
The Omniquad Instant Remote Control 2.2.9 utility allows you to gain full control over a remote PC through your desktop. A distinctive feature of this utility is that it does not require installation of the client part on the managed PC. When gaining access to a remote PC, the corresponding service is initially launched in stealth mode, and the user of the PC controlled using this program does not receive any notification and has no way of knowing that control of his computer has been intercepted. This allows you to use this utility for covert monitoring of user actions. Note that not all remote control utilities have the ability to control a PC without prior notification to the user.
When the program starts, the network is automatically scanned, and the computers in the network environment are displayed in the main program window (Fig. 7). After selecting any computer, pressing the Remote Control button intercepts control of the remote PC. The work of the local user is not blocked. In addition, it is possible to run this utility in monitoring mode of the desktop of a remote PC.
Rice. 7. Main window of the Omniquad Instant Remote Control 2.2.9 utility
Please note that for remote control you must have appropriate rights to access the PC. If you are using a firewall on a remote PC, you must open port 6003, which is used by this utility by default. In addition, you can assign any other port to Omniquad Instant Remote Control (and open ports can be scanned).
The disadvantage of the program is that it does not support simultaneous connections with several remote computers.
The demo version of the utility has a limited validity period - 30 days, the license price is $39.
EMCO Remote Desktop Professional 4.0 (www.emco.is)
In terms of the range of functionality, this product (Fig. 8) is to some extent similar to the DameWare NT Utilities 5.5.0.2 package. The EMCO Remote Desktop Professional software package is a set of functional tools for implementing remote management of a local network and monitoring its status.
Rice. 8. Main window of the EMCO Remote Desktop Professional utility
When you start the program, you can activate the network scanner, which allows you to collect detailed information about all computers on the local network, about applications installed on them, about running processes, about versions of the existing operating system, about installed equipment, etc. In addition to automatically collecting information about network computers (this process takes quite a long time), PCs can also be added to the list manually.
The package allows you to remotely start and stop services, restart and shut down computers. The most interesting feature of this program is the ability to gain full control over a remote computer - to do this, just select the desired computer in the list and go to the Viewer tab. If you are managing a computer for the first time, you must install the NetServer service on the remote PC. This procedure is carried out remotely and is completely invisible to the local user. Once the NetServer service is running on a remote PC, you can connect to it, gain full management control, and then work with the remote PC in the same way as with the local one. When controlling a computer remotely, the work of the local user is not blocked; However, if you use the mouse at the same time, it’s unlikely that anything will work.
Since the local user does not receive any notification that the computer is being controlled externally, EMCO Remote Desktop Professional software can be effectively used to secretly monitor user activity.
Another important advantage of the program is that it allows you to remotely control several PCs at the same time. In this case, a special window is allocated for each connection session with a remote PC.
Among the disadvantages of this program, we note the difficulty of setting it up when using Windows XP SP2 on a managed PC. Moreover, as practice shows, the need for configuration depends on what patches are installed. Of course, the program comes with step-by-step instructions for the changes that will have to be made in this case (more precisely, the program downloads the corresponding instructions from the website), but all this is quite inconvenient and impractical.
The demo version of the program is valid for 30 days and supports only 25 computers on the local network. The price of the package depends on the number of computers on the network: 50 computers (minimum quantity) - $135; 1000 computers - $1295
Radmin 3.0 Remote Control (www.radmin.com)
Of all the products we reviewed, the Radmin 3.0 Remote Control utility from Famatech is the most recent - its new version was released in early 2007.
This utility is designed to monitor and gain full control over a remote PC as part of a local network.
Radmin 3.0 Remote Control is equipped with only the most necessary tools for managing a remote PC and is very easy to configure (Fig. 9). Thanks to this, it is easy to master. The utility operates on the principle of a client-server application and includes two parts: the first (server) part is installed on the managed PC, and the second - on the PC from which control is performed.
Rice. 9. Main window of the Radmin 3.0 Remote Control utility
The disadvantages of the program include the lack of built-in tools for remote installation of the server part (Radmin Server) on a managed PC, so if you need to gain control over any PC on the network, you will first have to locally install the corresponding module on it.
In our opinion, a serious drawback of this utility is the lack of a built-in network scanner, which does not allow you to obtain a list of PCs that you can connect to.
Well, the last drawback that was discovered during testing of this program is that for the utility to work correctly, you need to configure or simply disable the Firewall on the managed PC if it is using Windows XP SP2.
The utility operates in several modes: file transfer, full control, view only, Telnet, shutdown and command line mode. There is a built-in file manager with which files are transferred from one PC to another. The program keeps statistics of the traffic used and can encrypt data.
Using Radmin 3.0 Remote Control, you can manage either one remote computer or several at once, each with its own password. To ensure an increased level of security, you can take additional precautions: enable password protection and create a list of prohibited IP addresses.
The latest version of the program has many interesting innovations:
- Windows Vista OS support;
- text and voice chat with the ability to hold conferences and exchange personal messages and password protection;
- an increased level of security that provides protection against attacks and protection of active data on the network;
- different access rights for each user;
- IP filters to restrict access to specific IP addresses and subnets.
In general, it should be noted that this utility is inferior in functionality to similar remote control utilities. The lack of a built-in network scanner and the need for local installation of the Radmin Server module - all this significantly limits its functionality.
In conclusion, we note that the cost of the Radmin 3.0 Remote Control license is $49 per PC.
Atelier Web Remote Commander 5.59 (www.atelierweb.com)
Atelier Web Remote Commander 5.59 (Fig. 10) is a small utility that, according to the plan, should provide full control of the remote PC. It consists of two parts and works on the client/server principle. In addition, it is possible to remotely collect information about the hardware configuration of a PC, etc. However, it hardly makes sense to list all the capabilities of the utility in this case, since it is so crude that it is unlikely to be used.
Rice. 10. Utility information window
Atelier Web Remote Commander 5.59
One of the obvious shortcomings is the lack of a certificate. In addition, the program does not have a built-in network scanner, which means you have to explicitly enter the name or IP address of the computer you want to connect to, which is extremely inconvenient. But the main drawback is that in order to connect to a remote PC, you first need to install the appropriate program module on it (there are no built-in tools for remote installation) and somehow configure it.
Unfortunately, no matter how we configured the program, we were unable to make a remote connection (the connection was made via a local network between two computers running the Windows XP SP2 operating system). Although the program is paid (the demo version has a limited validity period), it is absolutely useless and inoperable. Our verdict is to “stove” such programs.
Remote Desktop Control 1.7 (www.remote-desktop-control.com)
The Remote Desktop Control 1.7 program belongs to the category of client-server applications, that is, the Host module of the program is installed on the managed PC, and the Admin module is installed on the PC from which control is performed.
In terms of its interface (Fig. 11) and functionality, the Remote Desktop Control 1.7 package is very similar to Anyplace Control 3.3, but it also has some important differences (and for the worse), for example, it does not have the ability to implement remote installation of the Host module on any local computer networks. In addition, for the Remote Desktop Control 1.7 package to work, you need to configure the Firewall on the managed computer (add the program to the allowed list), while the Anyplace Control 3.3 program does this automatically.
Rice. 11. Main program window
Remote Desktop Control 1.7 with a displayed list of computers,
which you can connect to remotely
In terms of its functionality, Remote Desktop Control 1.7 is similar to the Anyplace Control 3.3 program: it allows you to work in two modes: viewing and control; in viewing mode, you can display the desktop of a remote PC on the screen and observe user actions, and in control mode, you can completely seize control of the remote PC.
Utilities allow you to remotely control several PCs simultaneously. This allows for the simultaneous execution of commands such as shutdown, reboot and end of the user session on managed PCs.
In conclusion, we note that the demo version of Remote Desktop Control 1.7 is valid for 30 days after installation. The price of the full version of the program depends on the number of PCs on which it is installed - $15 per PC.
TightVNC for Windows 1.3.8 (www.tightvnc.com)
TightVNC for Windows 1.3.8 is an absolutely free utility for remote computer control, which works on the client-server principle and has two modules: TightVNC Viewer and TightVNC Server. The TightVNC Server module is installed on the managed PC, and TightVNC Viewer is installed on the PC from which control is performed. There are no tools for remote installation of the TightVNC Server module. In addition, before starting work, you must configure the TightVNC Server module by specifying a connection password. To connect to a remote PC, just specify its DNS name or IP address and select the connection type (Fig. 12).
Rice. 12. Connect to a remote PC using the utility
TightVNC for Windows 1.3.8
The only function of TightVNC for Windows 1.3.8 is to gain full access to the desktop of a remote computer and control it using a mouse and keyboard. Considering that the utility is absolutely free, it can be recommended to home users.
UltraVNC 1.0.2 (www.uvnc.com)
The UltraVNC 1.0.2 utility is another absolutely free, but nevertheless very effective utility for remote PC control, working according to the client-server scheme. The UltraVNC Server module is installed on the managed computer, and the UltraVNC Viewer module is installed on the computer from which control is carried out. The program does not provide tools for remote installation of the UltraVNC Server module, so you must install the modules locally.
The UltraVNC Server module has a lot of settings (Fig. 13) and allows you to set a password for the connection, select the ports to use, etc.
Rice. 13. Configuring the UltraVNC Server module
When accessing the desktop of a remote PC in full control mode, the work of the local user is not blocked. In addition, the UltraVNC 1.0.2 utility offers a number of additional features. For example, there is a built-in chat with which you can exchange messages with a remote PC. The ability to transfer files is also provided. On top of that, the UltraVNC 1.0.2 utility provides encryption of transmitted data, for which keys are exchanged between computers.
In general, it can be noted that the UltraVNC 1.0.2 utility is a highly effective tool for remote PC management and can be recommended for both home users and corporate use (especially considering that the utility is free).
RealVNC (www.realvnc.com)
There are three versions of the RealVNC program: Free Edition, Personal Edition and Enterprise Edition, which differ from each other in functionality and cost.
RealVNC Free Edition has minimal functionality and is absolutely free. Actually, in this case we are only talking about the possibility of gaining access to the desktop of a remote PC.
RealVNC Personal Edition offers a number of additional features. First of all, this is traffic encryption using the AES algorithm with a key length of 128 bits (Fig. 14), and automatic generation of an encryption key is supported. In addition, it is possible to use user authentication, as well as transfer files between computers and much more.
Rice. 14. Configuring traffic encryption
and user authentication
in RealVNC Personal Edition
A distinctive feature of the RealVNC Enterprise Edition is its multi-platform nature. That is, this program, having all the functionality of RealVNC Personal Edition, can be used to remotely control computers running Linux, Solaris, HP-UX and MAC OS, as well as Windows 95/98/Me/NT 4/2000/ XP/2003/Vista.
The cost of the RealVNC program depends on the number of licenses (number of managed computers) and on the delivery option. Thus, the Personal Edition costs $30 per license, and the Enterprise Edition costs $50 per license.
Hidden Administrator 1.5 (www.hiddenadm.nm.ru)
The Hidden Administrator 1.5 program (Fig. 15) is another free program for remote computer management, and, as the name suggests, it allows you to covertly monitor computers.
Rice. 15. Main window of the Hidden Administrator 1.5 utility
The program works on the client-server principle. The server part is installed on a managed computer, and there are no tools for remote installation.
In addition to the function of gaining access in full control mode to the desktop of a remote computer, the Hidden Administrator 1.5 program offers a number of additional features: obtain information about the configuration of a remote PC, exchange files with a remote PC, send messages to a remote PC, turn off or restart a remote computer, work with the registry of a remote PC, receive and transmit the clipboard, run programs on a remote PC and much more (Fig. 16). Listing everything this program is capable of would take a lot of time. Note that the only thing it cannot do is encrypt traffic. Naturally, it is possible to set a password for connecting to a remote PC and even configure an IP filter on computers from which remote control is possible.
Rice. 16. Selecting an action with a remote PC
in Hidden Administrator 1.5
This utility is best in its class and can be recommended to home users.
Free programs for remote computer control
- Server administration,
- Network technologies ,
- System administration
Remote computer control programs allow you to remotely control another computer over the Internet or on a local network. This is convenient when you need to help a less experienced user, for example, a relative or friend who is not well versed with a computer, do something on it without leaving your comfortable chair and without wasting your nerves and time on telephone conversations. Such programs are also convenient to use for remote work, for example, from home to connect to the office and vice versa - to access your home PC, for system administration of an entire fleet of computers and servers.
Let's conduct a comparative analysis of remote control programs and highlight their advantages and disadvantages.
TeamViewer
One of the most popular programs for remote access, it can be quickly downloaded and installed or launched immediately, without installation, even a not very experienced user can handle it. When launched, the program displays a window with an ID and password to access this computer, and TeamViewer also allows you to connect to another computer by specifying its ID and password.Advantages:
The program has several main modes of operation: remote control, file transfer, chat, demonstration of your desktop. The program allows you to set up 24/7 access to your computer, which will be convenient for system administration. The speed of operation is quite decent, there are versions for all mobile platforms, for various operating systems, which is very pleasing. A simple and completely understandable interface plus a number of additional utilities to expand the functionality of the program will be useful for remote support services.
Flaws:
Although the program is free, it is only for non-commercial use, and when working with it for more than 5 minutes, a number of difficulties arise, for example, TV can block a remote connection session, recognizing it as commercial use. For round-the-clock remote access or administration of several computers or a computer network, you will have to pay for additional program modules. The cost of the program is high.
Result:
This program is ideal for a one-time remote connection or for using it for short periods of time. Convenient to use from mobile platforms, but not to administer a large number of computers. You will have to pay extra for additional modules.
LiteManager
A simple, but quite powerful program in terms of capabilities, consists of two parts, the first is Server, which needs to be installed or launched on a remote computer, and Viewer, which allows you to control another computer. To operate, the program requires a little more skills and experience from the manager, although working with the server is even simpler than in TeamViewer, the server can be installed once and no further actions are required from the user, the ID will always be constant, you can even set it yourself manually, which very convenient for memorization. The LiteManager Free version is free for personal and commercial use.
Advantages:
In addition to the main remote access modes: remote control, file transfer, chat, task manager, registry editor, the program also has unique functions, for example: inventory, screen recording, remote installation. The program is free for use on up to 30 computers, it can be used for round-the-clock access without any additional modules. There are no restrictions on operating time. It is possible to configure your own server ID to set up a corporate help desk. The program does not have any restrictions on operating time or blocking.
Flaws:
There is not enough client for mobile platforms or other systems, there is a limit of 30 computers in the free version, to administer more you need to purchase a license. Some specific operating modes are only available in the Pro version.
Result:
The Litemanager program is suitable for providing remote support, for administering several dozen computers absolutely free, for setting up your own remote support service. The cost of the program is the lowest in its segment and the license is not limited in time.
Ammy admin
The program is basically similar to TeamViewer, but a simpler option. There are only basic operating modes - viewing and control, file transfer, chat. The program can run without installation and is free for non-commercial use.
Advantages:
A simple and lightweight program, you can work both on the Internet and on a local network, has minimal settings and does not require any special skills. Compared to TeamViewer, the licensing policy is more lenient.
Flaws:
Minimum functions for remote management, it will be difficult to administer a large fleet of computers, with long-term use, more than 15 hours per month, the work session may be limited or blocked, paid for commercial use,
Result:
This program is more suitable for a one-time connection to a computer and not very complex manipulations, for example, to assist an inexperienced user in setting up a computer.
RAdmin
One of the first remote control programs and well-known in its circle, I could not help but mention it, more intended for system administration, the main emphasis is on security. The program consists of two: server and client components. Requires installation, it will not be easy for an inexperienced user to figure it out, the program is designed mainly to work using an IP address, which is not entirely convenient for providing technical support. Internet support. The program is paid, but has a free trial period.
Advantages:
The program has high operating speed, especially in a good network, thanks to the video driver for capturing the desktop, increased reliability and security. Intel AMT technology is built-in, which allows you to connect to the BIOS of a remote computer and configure it. Only the basic operating modes are implemented: remote control, file transfer, chat, etc.
Flaws:
There is almost no way to work without an IP address, i.e. connect by ID. There is no client for mobile systems. There is no free version, only a 30-day trial period. To work with the program, you need the skills of an experienced user. When connecting a video, the driver may disable the Aero graphical shell, sometimes the screen flickers.
Result:
The program is more suitable for system administrators for administering computers and servers on a local network. To work over the Internet, you may have to set up a VPN tunnel.
Hello to all site readers! Please advise program for remote computer control. I want to control a computer at work from home or control a home computer from work. Sometimes you also want to help friends solve computer problems remotely, for example, without leaving home, install an anti-virus program for a friend (who lives on the other side of town), set up Skype, remove a virus, and so on. It is desirable that the program be free, and you do not need to register anywhere, that is, download it, launch it and work. Sergey.
Program for remote computer control
Hello, friends! Without a doubt, such programs are free, and TeamViewer, today’s article is about the latter, it is free for personal use, works without installation, can be carried on a flash drive, and you can register if you wish, now see for yourself.I'll give you two instructions.
1) How to use TeamViewer quickly and without registration.
2) In the second part of the article, we will look at what registration in the TeamViewer program will give us. Registration in the program will help us connect to a remote computer from anywhere and we won’t even need a partner.
The TeamViewer program is so easy to use that all my friends, even those who are very far from computer matters, also got used to using it. When, for example, something is not working correctly in their operating system, they immediately launch the “little blue program with arrows” and call me. They say, come on, help, your program has already been launched, ID is such and such, password is such and such.
There was such an interesting incident in my life. One of my friends asked me to install several free programs on his laptop with Windows 7, he himself was in another country at that time, with the help programs for remote computer control TeamViewer's plan has come true. Any experienced user can give you hundreds of similar cases when, using TeamViewer, he helped his friends fix some problem in the operating system. Now it’s your turn to get acquainted with this program, if you are not already familiar.
Go to the program website http://www.teamviewer.com/ru and click “Free full version”
The program installer is downloaded to our computer,
Let's launch it. Check the box “Run only” and “Personal/non-commercial use”. Accept - run.
Pay attention to the main program window. TeamViewer has assigned an ID and password to our computer. If you tell them to your partner, he can easily connect to your computer.
How will he do this? Yes, very simple! On the remote computer you need to do the same thing, namely, launch the TeamViewer program and check the “Launch only” and Personal/non-commercial use checkboxes. Accept - run.
On the remote computer, the TeamViewer program will launch in exactly the same way with its own ID number and password.
Then your partner will enter your identification number ID - 394032155 and click on the Connect to partner button,
The Password field will immediately appear. Your partner enters the password 2917 and clicks Login.
That's all, your partner has connected to your computer and sees your desktop, he can work in the same way as at his desktop. In exactly the same way, you can get onto your partner’s computer. Enter his ID and password in the program and help your friend remotely.
What does registration in the TeamViewer program give and how to set up uncontrolled access
If you register for TeamViewer, you will have a much better experience using the program. You will have your own account (permanent ID and password) and with it you can very easily set up permanent access to the computers you need. For example, from your home you can log into your work computer, and from your work computer to your home computer; for this you just need the computer to be turned on. There is no need to specifically launch TeamViewer on a remote computer; after installing the program, the TeamViewer service will constantly run in the operating system.
We install the TeamViewer program, for example, on a home desktop computer. Let's launch the installer. During installation, select "Install so you can manage this computer remotely" and "personal/non-commercial use." Check "Show Advanced Settings". Accept - next.
Ready.
The one I installed (a cool program, I recommend it) signaled that the TeamViewer service had entered autoload.
Set up uncontrolled access.
Enter the invented Computer Name (account) and password. Further.
Create a TeamViewer account for free. Enter your name, email and password. Further.
Ready.
We go to our mailbox, find a letter from TeamViewer and confirm our account, click on the link.
Now, when you start the TeamViewer program, this computer will have a permanent ID and password for the account.
Let's say this is our home computer. You can connect to it like this. On any other computer (for example, we have a laptop and it’s at work), launch TeamViewer, and simply check the “Launch only” and Personal/non-commercial use checkboxes. Accept - complete. Enter the ID code. As we can see, the program keeps a log, so we simply select our account and click “Connect to a partner”,
Enter the account password
And we can control our home computer.
In the same way, you can control your work computer from home.
Many who are faced with the problem of the inability to control (or administer) their computer remotely and in real time do not even imagine the existence of remote administration. Frankly, until recently I also did not know about the existence of such a thing. Let's shed light on some subtleties regarding this issue.
Remote administration
So, as mentioned above, remote administration allows you to gain remote access to a specific computer (for example, via the Internet or LAN) and gives you the opportunity to manage your personal computer from a distance.In fact, remote administration is a new opportunity to make your work as comfortable and high-quality as possible, all the time being “online”, distributing your work schedule, consulting with colleagues and making effective adjustments at work moments.
Remote administration provides the user with almost complete control over the remote computer; in fact, for this purpose, remote administration programs are created that make it possible to manage the desktop, copy and delete files, run applications, etc., while being at a distance.
Remote administration programs
Remote administration programs are currently the most popular. Due to their accessibility to the average user, they are mostly free, support work with all popular operating systems, for smartphones, and in general have long been a “save” for all advanced users. Forgot to download/move a file on your work computer - remote administration will help you. Other actions are required, including changing pictures from the desktop - no problem. The interface is easy to understand for most users, whether they are experienced PC users or not. There are two types of interface: visual and console, so there can be no problems with it. Each of the two types will be discussed in more detail below.The visual interface gives more possibilities in terms of graphics; Using high-quality pictures allows you to find a particular folder, template or photo much faster. The visual interface is ideal for people who consider themselves not the most experienced PC or smartphone users. Quite often the visual interface is simplified to the maximum.
The console interface has more functions available to the user. According to experienced users, it is more productive and has text strings that allow you to set a fairly wide range of commands in a minimum amount of time. The console interface is ideal for embedded system applications, is less expensive and certainly does not require special software.
There are a lot of programs for remote administration, the most famous are:
- Radmin
- AnyDesk
- Team Viewer
- Windows RDP
Remote Linux administration
Let's turn our attention to remote administration of Linux. Linux is the general name for Unix-like operating systems based on the kernel of the same name. Currently, Linux is leading the market in smartphones, Internet servers, data centers and enterprises, etc. Linux does not require a ton of system or other software and has an excellent set of features that speak for themselves.The editors hope that the information offered above will allow you to handle remote administration programs more easily. After all, they were invented for our convenience. We wish you good luck; for all questions regarding the purchase of remote administration programs, you can find answers to the links provided in the text.
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