TeamViewer

TeamViewer

Teamviewer on Windows 8
Developer(s) TeamViewer GmbH
Stable release
Operating system Android, iOS, Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, Windows Phone 8, Windows RT, BlackBerry
Available in Multilingual
Type Remote administration software, Web conferencing
License Proprietary, free for non-commercial usage
Website TeamViewer

TeamViewer is a proprietary computer software package for remote control, desktop sharing, online meetings, web conferencing and file transfer between computers.

Features

TeamViewer is available for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X,[1][2] Linux,[3] Chrome OS,[4] iOS,[5] Android,[6] Windows RT,[7] Windows Phone 8[8] and BlackBerry operating systems. It is also possible to access a machine running TeamViewer with a web browser.[9] While the main focus of the application is remote control of computers, collaboration and presentation features are included.[10]

TeamViewer can be used without charge by non-commercial users,[11] and Business, Premium and Corporate versions are available.

TeamViewer GmbH was founded in 2005 in Uhingen, Germany. UK-based private equity firm Permira acquired TeamViewer GmbH from Durham, North Carolina-based software developer GFI Software in 2014.[12] The company also hosts an online backup cloud service called Airbackup.[13]

Establishing connections

TeamViewer may be installed with an installation procedure, although the 'Quick Support' version will run without installation.[14] To connect to another computer, TeamViewer has to be running on both machines. To install TeamViewer, administrator access is required, but once installed it can be run by any user. When TeamViewer is started on a computer, it generates a partner ID and password (user-defined passwords are also supported). To establish a connection between a local client and a remote client, TeamViewer generated ID and password of either client are required. The local client requires the remote client's ID and password to gain control over the remote client, whereas the remote client requires the local client's ID and password to gain control over the local client.[15]

To start an online meeting, the presenter gives the Meeting ID to the participants. They join the meeting by using the TeamViewer full version or by logging on to http://go.teamviewer.com/ and entering the Meeting ID.[16] It is also possible to schedule a meeting in advance.[16]

Security

TeamViewer uses RSA private/public key exchange (2048-bit) and AES (256-bit) session encryption.[17]

In the default configuration, TeamViewer uses one of the servers of TeamViewer.com to start the connection and the routing of traffic between the local client and the remote host machine. The software then determines how to establish a connection. In 70% of the cases after the handshake, a direct connection via UDP or TCP is established; the other connections are routed through TeamViewer GmbH's router network (via TCP or HTTP-tunneling).[18]

Fraudulent uses

TeamViewer and similar services have been used to commit technical support scams via telephone calls. People are called, either at random or from a list, by criminals claiming to represent a computer support service which has identified the victim's computer as being infected by malware, sometimes using the name of a company such as Microsoft. They then ask the victim to give them access to their computer by installing a remote control service, which can allow the attacker to infect the computer with malware or to delete or copy personal files. A Wired journalist investigating the scams was asked by a scammer to install TeamViewer.[19][20]

In March of 2016, it was reported that a ransomware program named "Surprise" was exploiting TeamViewer as an infection channel, among other distribution methods. [21] [22]

Version history

Version Date Description
TeamViewer

11

 Dec

2015[23]

 New features: Universal app for Windows 10, Chrome OS support, mass deployment for TeamViewer host on Android, improved performance, Overhauled toolbar, Unattended access for Android devices, SOS button for support requests, Customer satisfaction form, Connections to Linux console, remote installation of TeamViewer Host, channel groups, group sharing improvements, TeamViewer in browser, Chat Widget, Mobile & Web-based TeamViewer Chats, Client redesign[23]
TeamViewer 10 Dec 2014[24] New features: Central setting policies, Master whitelist, Chat history, One-click video calls, Profile picture, find nearby contacts, 4K display support, Real-time session notes, Optimized Performance, Computers & Contacts API, idle session timeout, Door lock for online meetings, integration with Dropbox, Google Drive and more, whiteboard for remote control, Improved design[24]
Teamviewer 9 Dec 2013[25][26] New features: Open multiple connections in different tabs, Wake-on-LAN, customer modules, copy and paste files via the clipboard, simplified file transfer, service queue, TeamViewer API, desktop shortcuts, notifications, optimized video, redesigned compatibility: Remote control of TeamViewer 9 by TeamViewer 9 clients only, meetings are accessible by TeamViewer 8,7 clients. TeamViewer 9 users can remote control TeamViewer 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8[26]
TeamViewer 8 Dec 2012 [25][26] New features: Session handover from one expert to another, comment on sessions for billing documentation, share selected groups with other TeamViewer accounts, easy remote printing in your home office, schedule online meetings easily in Microsoft Outlook, session recording, including sound and video for perfect documentation, remote sound and video, remote account logout, automatically lock of the computer after remote access, TeamViewer Management Console compatibility: Remote control of TeamViewer 8 by TeamViewer 9, 8 clients only, meetings are accessible by TeamViewer 7 clients. TeamViewer 8 users can remote control TeamViewer 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7[26]
TeamViewer 7 Nov 2011 [25]
TeamViewer 6 Dec 2010 [25]
TeamViewer 5 Dec 2009 [25]

See also

References

  1. ↑ TeamViewer V4desktop collaboration app now Mac-compatible Philip Michaels, Macworld
  2. ↑ Article comparing screen-sharing software, Seth Rosenblatt, Cnet download blog
  3. ↑ "TeamViewer 5 for Linux released". Support.teamviewer.com. 2010-04-15. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  4. ↑ "TeamViewer for Chromebooks - Work Better On-the-go". TeamViewer Blog. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
  5. ↑ TeamViewer iPad App Provides Remote Access to PCs David Roe, CMSWire
  6. ↑ "App (Beta) for Android released". TeamViewer. 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
  7. ↑ "TeamViewer Touch App for Windows 8 released". Teamviewer. 2012-10-29. Retrieved 2012-12-10.
  8. ↑ "TeamViewer® Launches New App for Windows Phone 8". TeamViewer. 2013-06-11. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  9. ↑ Spick, Geoff, "Join the crowd", Teamviewer 4.1 (article), CMS Wire.
  10. ↑ "Engadget". Engadget. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  11. ↑ "TeamViewer Use Case – Remote Support". Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  12. ↑ "Permira funds to acquire leading software firm TeamViewer from GFI Software" (PDF). Permira. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  13. ↑ Parrish, Kevin. "TeamViewer Intros Airbackup: Cloud Backup for SMBs". Tom's IT Pro. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  14. ↑ Downloads, Teamviewer, retrieved 2009-10-17.
  15. ↑ Download of the Day, Rick Broida, Lifehacker.
  16. 1 2 First steps: TV7 instant meeting (PDF), TeamViewer.
  17. ↑ "Security". Teamviewer. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  18. ↑ "Security Statement" (PDF). TeamViewer. 2011.
  19. ↑ "What happens if you play along with a Microsoft 'tech support' scam?". Wired UK. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  20. ↑ Man records phone scammers; listen and learn what not to do, Macleans Magazine, (contained in audio recording)
  21. ↑ "Are You “Surprised” by New Ransomware Spread via Teamviewer?". Informationsecuritybuzz.com. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
  22. ↑ "Surprise Ransomware Installed via TeamViewer and Executes from Memory". Bleeping Computer, LLC. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
  23. 1 2 "TeamViewer - TeamViewer 11 Final Released". www.teamviewer.com. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
  24. 1 2 "TeamViewer 10 Final Released". Teamviewer.com. Teamviewer. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 "TeamViewer version history". Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  26. 1 2 3 4 "TeamViewer News". Retrieved 3 May 2016.

External links

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