TeamViewer
Teamviewer 11 on Windows 10 | |||||||||||||||||
Developer(s) | TeamViewer GmbH | ||||||||||||||||
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Stable release(s) [±] | |||||||||||||||||
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Operating system | Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, Windows Phone 8, Windows RT, BlackBerry | ||||||||||||||||
Type | Remote administration, Web conferencing | ||||||||||||||||
License | Freemium | ||||||||||||||||
Website |
www |
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,[9][10] Linux,[11] Chrome OS,[12] iOS,[13] Android,[14] Windows RT,[15] Windows Phone 8[16] and BlackBerry operating systems. It is also possible to access a machine running TeamViewer with a web browser.[17] While the main focus of the application is remote control of computers, collaboration and presentation features are included.[18]
TeamViewer can be used without charge by non-commercial users,[19] and Business, Premium and Corporate versions are available.
TeamViewer GmbH was founded in 2005 in Göppingen, Germany. UK-based private equity firm Permira acquired TeamViewer GmbH from Durham, North Carolina-based software developer GFI Software in 2014.[20] The company also hosts an online backup cloud service called Airbackup.[21]
Establishing connections
TeamViewer may be installed with an installation procedure, although the 'Quick Support' version will run without installation.[22] 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.[23]
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.[24] It is also possible to schedule a meeting in advance.[24]
Security
TeamViewer uses RSA private/public key exchange (2048-bit) and AES (256-bit) session encryption.[25]
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).[26]
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.[27][28]
In March 2016, it was reported that a ransomware program named "Surprise" was exploiting TeamViewer as an infection channel, among other distribution methods.[29][30]
In June 2016, hundreds of TeamViewer users reported having their computers accessed by an unauthorized address in China and bank accounts misappropriated.[31] TeamViewer denied having been hacked directly and their service went offline purportedly due to a denial-of-service attack.[32]
Version history
Version | Date | Description |
---|---|---|
12 | December 2016 [33] | New features: Windows 10 and Chrome OS support, mass deployment for TeamViewer host on Android Nougat and iOS 10, Smoother Remote Sessions, Remote Control Tabs for macOS, Remote QuickSteps, Service Case Notifications, Remote Sticky Note, High Frame Rate Connections, Simplified Client Interface, Intelligent Connections Setup, OneDrive for Business, Faster File Transfer, Silent Host Roll Out, Remote Device Dashboard, Code Base Re-write for Performance, Device Connection Reports, Mobile to Mobile Remote Connections, Windows Phone Support[33] |
11 | December 2015[34] | 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[34] |
10 | December 2014[35] | 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[35] |
9 | December 2013[36][37] | 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[37] |
8 | December 2012 [36][37] | 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[37] |
7 | November 2011 [36] | |
6 | December 2010 [36] | |
5 | December 2009 [36] |
See also
- Comparison of remote desktop software
- Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)
- Remote Desktop Services
- Remote desktop software
- Virtual Network Computing (VNC)
References
- ↑ "TeamViewer". Softpedia. SoftNews. 28 July 2017.
- ↑ "TeamViewer for Mac". Softpedia. SoftNews. 28 July 2017.
- ↑ "TeamViewer". Softpedia. SoftNews. 31 May 2017.
- ↑ "TeamViewer". APKMirror. Illogical Robot. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
- ↑ "TeamViewer: Remote Control". App Store. Apple. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
- ↑ "TeamViewer: Remote Control". Windows Store. Microsoft. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ↑ "TeamViewer: Remote Control". BlackBerry World. BlackBerry Limited. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ↑ "TeamViewer". Chrome Web Store. Google. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ↑ TeamViewer V4desktop collaboration app now Mac-compatible Philip Michaels, Macworld
- ↑ Article comparing screen-sharing software, Seth Rosenblatt, Cnet download blog
- ↑ "TeamViewer 5 for Linux released". Support.teamviewer.com. 2010-04-15. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
- ↑ "TeamViewer for Chromebooks - Work Better On-the-go". TeamViewer Blog. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
- ↑ TeamViewer iPad App Provides Remote Access to PCs David Roe, CMSWire
- ↑ "App (Beta) for Android released". TeamViewer. 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
- ↑ "TeamViewer Touch App for Windows 8 released". Teamviewer. 2012-10-29. Retrieved 2012-12-10.
- ↑ "TeamViewer® Launches New App for Windows Phone 8". TeamViewer. 2013-06-11. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
- ↑ Spick, Geoff, "Join the crowd", Teamviewer 4.1 (article), CMS Wire.
- ↑ "Engadget". Engadget. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ↑ "TeamViewer Use Case – Remote Support". Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ↑ "Permira funds to acquire leading software firm TeamViewer from GFI Software" (PDF). Permira. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
- ↑ Parrish, Kevin. "TeamViewer Intros Airbackup: Cloud Backup for SMBs". Tom's IT Pro. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
- ↑ Downloads, Teamviewer, retrieved 2009-10-17.
- ↑ Download of the Day, Rick Broida, Lifehacker.
- 1 2 First steps: TV7 instant meeting (PDF), TeamViewer.
- ↑ "Security". Teamviewer. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
- ↑ "Security Statement" (PDF). TeamViewer. 2011.
- ↑ "What happens if you play along with a Microsoft 'tech support' scam?". Wired UK. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ↑ Man records phone scammers; listen and learn what not to do, Macleans Magazine, (contained in audio recording)
- ↑ "Are You “Surprised” by New Ransomware Spread via Teamviewer?". Informationsecuritybuzz.com. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
- ↑ "Surprise Ransomware Installed via TeamViewer and Executes from Memory". Bleeping Computer, LLC. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
- ↑ "TeamViewer denies hack after PCs hijacked, PayPal accounts drained". The Register. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
- ↑ "Hack Suspected on TeamViewer After Users Report Unauthorized Connections". Trend Micro. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
- 1 2 "TeamViewer - TeamViewer 12 Final Released". www.teamviewer.com. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
- 1 2 "TeamViewer - TeamViewer 11 Final Released". www.teamviewer.com. Retrieved 2015-12-01.
- 1 2 "TeamViewer 10 Final Released". Teamviewer.com. Teamviewer. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "TeamViewer version history". Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 "TeamViewer News". Retrieved 3 May 2016.