RemoteObserverComments on:

By: John

John — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 17:39:36 +0000

Works great, but I can’t think of anything I really need to use it for most of the time. All I can do is watch everyone’s desktop, but without being able to control them, this app isn’t for me hah. I use Samantecs Remote Desktop tool instead, but this one is nice for security. This’d be great for monitoring employee’s and test takers.

By: TK

TK — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:36:54 +0000

One point about the naming convention used in this “suite” of programs they call the actual server that runs as a service and listens on the specified port for incomming TCP/IP connections the client, and the server browser that initiates the connection to the individual “client” servers that are to be observed the “server”.

This error in terminology could cause problems when trying to integrate this into a properly locked down network.

I have a concern about running extra servers on every machine that this could observe as each port open to the outside world (yes even a locked down LAN is the outside world to any given worksation) is a potential attack vector for at least a denial of service attack or at worst remote code execution.

To those calling this the ultimate spyware, this is not that, it is just a screen capturing activity auditing tool it does not hide its service on the machine it is installed on (other than the confused naming convention mentioned above) and is not classified as malware by any anti-spyware vendor I have tried. As far as I can see it does not capture key-strokes so passwords and security phrases hidden behind “*” are not revelaed. In a work environment with PC’s it is implied if not stated directly in employee handbook or contract that the managment reserves the right to or may monitor computer usage activity and list the types of activities that are permitted and those which are not, so there is no excuse or defence if caught out using personal IM for hours a day at work using this type of program.

Other than that it was relatively painless to use but the licensing seems a bit ambiguous. GAOTD have obtained a 2 user license for us…
is the observer one of the licensed users or does the license mean 2 observed server users? Either way the “upto 64 users” is misleading as this offering has the minimum 2 user license.

By: Rmaylaura

Rmaylaura — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:50:38 +0000

I have an 11 yr old son with a computer in his room. I LOVE this tool. It is my favorite ever. I can keep an eye on him and he knows Mom can see anything he is doing.

By: internetexplorer

internetexplorer — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 06:01:46 +0000

#58–ShowMyPC may well do everything you say, but I doubt that it provides a Virtual Private Network (VPN) which is a secure private connection between two or more computers by setting up a “tunnel” between them “underneath” your internet connection like Hamachi. Of course, maybe you don’t need the VPN, but Hamachi is just as free.

By: T

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:58:18 +0000

I use RealVNC and OpenVPN and both work great =3.

By: Purrete

Purrete — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:00:52 +0000

Hey, with all the programmers we have here, can you do a small apps. to help the employees of #15 a.k.a. Dick? Something like a window coming up every time he is about to take a screenshot, saying “It’s payback time, Dickhead!”
Bravo #12, I’m with you!
Now back to ShowmyPC, as a divorced parent I need to help my kids via long distance so this is a good apps. Do I need to download it (or TeamViewer which I like better) to both PC’s? Sounds a bit dumb, I know…..oh well, its not my best day today, sorry! Put the blame on #15!

By: ken kelly

ken kelly — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 03:31:38 +0000

45, You are correct to a point that we should protect our children. There is the problem of over protecting them as well. There is no such thing as absolute safty so the children of this world also need to face some of the dangers of life to be able to protect themselves. It is also a fact that a great number of the young adults now are incapable of protecting themselves against common dangers out there because parents were overly protective. A program like this should never be used to check and that is spying on your children. There are much better ways of doing this that actuallywork if you moniter them and they find out and they will they will go to another place to see what you think is so bad. Be open and honest with your children ad this will pay off more than any other thing you can do.

By: Calvin

Calvin — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 03:07:09 +0000

Both Server and Client files are dated 1/12/2004. Are they More than 4 years old and no updates since?

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 03:06:47 +0000

logmein does same thing an is always free for free version

By: SoftwareTester

SoftwareTester — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:52:07 +0000

I installed both the server and client. I can access the server program OK, but the client program when installed on another computer would not pop up the configuration page as its supposed to. I can find no way to get to it to set password and address!