# The Coolest Free Computer Software I Have Found In a Long Time
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [October 8, 2005, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272 "2005-10-08T02:18:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2005, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/1 "2005-10-08T02:18:09Z")
I am not a shill but I thought that I had to share this. [LogMeIN Free](http://www.download.com/LogMeIn-Free/3000-7240_4-10434405.html) lets you download a small utility and then lets you access your home computer from anywhere there is a web browser. You just have to leave your computer on and have an always-on internet connection. It has a full-screen mode so that your virtual display completely covers the computer you are working. What you see and get IS your computer. You can do absolutely anything you could do if you were sitting in front of your computer and it looks the same.
I work in IT and I think this is one of the coolest things ever. I have used corporate remote access software for years but it was not nearly as cool as this.
Best of all, it is 100% free although there is a pro package you can buy for some extra features.
I installed this a few days ago and I think it is great. I was in McDonalds today and they had free internet access. In seconds, I was staring at my own computer desktop and checking my e-mail. My computer screen at home was being driven by a ghost.
Anyone else know of any incredible (free) software?
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### Author:  [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2005, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/2 "2005-10-08T06:27:57Z")
Yeah, but how safe/secure is it?
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### Author:  [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2005, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/3 "2005-10-08T06:53:49Z")
Thanks Shagnasty. This is just what I need. I used to use GoToMyPC but its expensive.
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### Author:  [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2005, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/4 "2005-10-08T13:08:51Z")
> [@Cisco](#):
>
> Yeah, but how safe/secure is it?
It is supposed to be more safe than any of the other (paid) alternatives. It has multiple means of encryption including 256 bit. There is also a two - three level password process for signing it to your computer (if you leave your computer logged out, you still have to sign in to it also). Its security strengths are mentioned in the independent review link in the OP. The company seems completely legit and has a good business model.
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2005, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/5 "2005-10-08T13:44:52Z")
I’ve been looking for something like that, thanks.
I’ve only recently discovered XP’s built-in “Remote Desktop Connection” feature. Is this an improvement over that? If I have XP Home instead of Professional at home, does that prevent me from using “Remote Desktop Connection” from work (XP Professional) to connect to my PC at home?
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2005, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/6 "2005-10-08T13:53:32Z")
> [@Revtim](#):
>
> If I have XP Home instead of Professional at home, does that prevent me from using “Remote Desktop Connection” from work (XP Professional) to connect to my PC at home?
Yes, I discovered the host computer (the one you want to remotely access) must have Professional.
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/7 "2005-10-08T16:28:29Z")
Cool. On my home PC, I used XP’s “Remote Desktop Connection” to connect to my PC at work, which I then used to connect to my PC at home via LogMeIn Free.
If there’s a new hole in the space-time continuum, that’s probably my fault.
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### Author:  [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/8 "2005-10-08T16:46:47Z")
Safety note- don’t try to access the computer you’re currently using. It’ll show you accessing your computer accessing your computer accessing your computer accessing your computer accessing your computer…
So, yes, I was the OTHER hole in the space/time continuum. Looked fairly cool, though.
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### Author:  [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/9 "2005-10-08T16:50:09Z")
> [@Revtim](#):
>
> Cool. On my home PC, I used XP’s “Remote Desktop Connection” to connect to my PC at work, which I then used to connect to my PC at home via LogMeIn Free.
>
> If there’s a new hole in the space-time continuum, that’s probably my fault.
You need to stop doing stuff like that. It gets to be really strange. I have used remote access stuff for years but it wasn’t quite the same thing. This thing just implements it really well and convienently. It is literally, "Oh, can I use your computer: 5 seconds pass…Oh look, Now it is my computer 500 miles away ".
Other person: “Don’t install anything on my computer!”
Me: “It’s not your computer, it is mine. I’m, not doing anything to yours.”
Other person: “What happened to my icons?”
Me: “Nothing, I am working on my computer. I didn’t do anything to yours”.
Other person’s head explodes.
I showed this to my wife last night. She got really freaked out. She says: “I don’t have to go to work much anymore” (in all seriousness).
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2005, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/10 "2005-10-08T23:17:32Z")
How does LogMeIn handle dynamic IPs? For that matter, does it handle tunnelling through a NAT router by itself? I’m assuming that there is some reliance on the publisher’s server.
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/11 "2005-10-08T23:26:25Z")
> [@Mangetout](#):
>
> How does LogMeIn handle dynamic IPs? For that matter, does it handle tunnelling through a NAT router by itself? I’m assuming that there is some reliance on the publisher’s server.
I don’t know about the NAT router, but to connect, you log into the logmein website, which I assume is being updated by the logmein software on the host machine. If the IP changes, it’ll update the server.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/12 "2005-10-08T23:26:34Z")
The FAQ says my computer must be connected to the internet for the program to work. Does this mean I need to leave a browser window open?
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [October 8, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/13 "2005-10-08T23:37:22Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#):
>
> The FAQ says my computer must be connected to the internet for the program to work. Does this mean I need to leave a browser window open?
I seriously doubt it, I’m sure it’s the LogMeIn software running in the system tray that makes the connection, and not anything in a browser.
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### Author:  [@Kiminy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiminy)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2005, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/14 "2005-10-09T01:08:28Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#):
>
> The FAQ says my computer must be connected to the internet for the program to work. Does this mean I need to leave a browser window open?
“Connectted to the Internet” just means that you have an active Internet connection at the time. If you have broadband access, like DSL or Cable, you’re probably always connected, regardless of whether you are actually using the connection. (My brother has dial-up DSL, though, so he’s connected to the Internet only when he wants to be connected to the Internet.)
If you have dial-up, though, and if your dial-up connects when you open the browser and disconnects when you close the browser, you might need to look into other ways to connect to the Internet if you want to use this. Most dial-up services also disconnect your computer after a certain period of non-use anyway, so I wouldn’t recommend this kind of program if you connect via dial-up.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2005, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/15 "2005-10-09T01:09:10Z")
> [@Revtim](#):
>
> I seriously doubt it, I’m sure it’s the LogMeIn software running in the system tray that makes the connection, and not anything in a browser.
Ah, good. I have a cable modem.
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### Author:  [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/16 "2005-10-09T16:49:18Z")
Other than stronger encryption (256-bit vs. 128-bit) what advantages does this have over [UltraVNC](http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net/)?
It seems to me that running your remote session through a third party’s server is a significant security risk, regardless of how legitimate they seem.
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/17 "2005-10-09T17:15:37Z")
> [@Number](#):
>
> Other than stronger encryption (256-bit vs. 128-bit) what advantages does this have over [UltraVNC](http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net/)?
>
> It seems to me that running your remote session through a third party’s server is a significant security risk, regardless of how legitimate they seem.
Does UltraVNC need client software to connect to the host, like other VNC software? (I cannot load the link, my connection is for shit this weekend). If so, then LogMeIn’s advantage is that it only requires a browser, which is already on pretty much all systems. If you are on a machine you don’t have the rights to install stuff on, you can stll use it. Also, you don’t have to remember your home IP address (which might change because of dynamic IPs even if you remember it), just the [logmein.com](http://logmein.com) address.
Good point about the 3rd party though, that’s a risk.
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### Author:  [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)
#### Post date: [October 9, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/18 "2005-10-09T17:25:07Z")
> [@Revtim](#):
>
> Does UltraVNC need client software to connect to the host, like other VNC software?
It requires a client, but you can carry that around on a CD or thumbdrive. It does not need to be installed to run.
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2005, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/19 "2005-10-10T13:13:12Z")
> [@Number](#):
>
> It requires a client, but you can carry that around on a CD or thumbdrive. It does not need to be installed to run.
I’d rather not carry a disk or USB drive if I can avoid it.
Well, here I am at work, and LogMeIn is completely failing to connect to my home PC. The page starts to load, but never gets any data. This is almost certainly because my connection at home was acting like shit the whole weekend, and still isn’t fixed.
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### Author:  [@Arwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arwin)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2005, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-coolest-free-computer-software-i-have-found-in-a-long-time/325272/20 "2005-10-10T13:26:05Z")
> [@Number](#):
>
> Other than stronger encryption (256-bit vs. 128-bit) what advantages does this have over [UltraVNC](http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net/)?
>
> It seems to me that running your remote session through a third party’s server is a significant security risk, regardless of how legitimate they seem.
Wasn’t TightVNC the better software?
That’s what I/we use anyway.
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