TopResource.NET

Now almost every small / medium office business have several computer and usually each of it already connected with Local Area Network connection. With cable Local Area Network (UTP) the cable can be use maximum about 100 meters. If the location is big or have several floor, maybe the administrator will need time to go from one computer to other computer for maintenance it. So, network administrator need a remote software to control the other computer. Yes, Windows XP also have remote desktop, but in this article, we will talk about free UltraVNC software.

What is VNC?

At the beginning, we will talk about VNC. VNC is Virtual Network Computing. This is a software which use to view and control the computer from others which is connected to network or event internet. Some Linux already package the installation with VNC software, but for Microsoft Windows, we have to download the VNC software. The standart VNC software can talk cross operating system. It mean if we installed the VNC at Microsoft Windows computer, we can connected and control Linux which already activated the VNC software.

There are 2 kind of VNC software, first is VNC server for  installed at computer which will be controlled. Second is VNC viewer, this is use for connected to VNC server. The VNC have their own username, password and port.

UltraVNC is a Freeware and Open Source

There are some software which is develop with many company or community, some of them is sharewere and some of them is freeware. UltraVNC is a  freeware and open source software. At this time, UltraVNC is only available for Microsoft Windows operating system, but maybe next time, they will also provide UltraVNC for other operating system.

Like a standard VNC software, UltraVNC also have their personal username, password and port. But, beside that, UltraVNC also have encryption plug-in with our own key with 128 bit encryptions. The encryption will be use to encrypt the communication between 2 computer (server and viewer). This is very useful if we are using internet for the connection. So, although cracker can capture the data, it will very hard for them to understand the data, because they only get the encrypted and useless data.

To operating the UltraVNC, first we have to download from UltraVNC website.  After finish download, it is easy to install the software, the software will be ask for install the server or viewer or both of it. Choose as what you need, but if you not sure about it,  choose to install all. We can easy to reinstall or remove the service by install it again from the beginning.

UltraVNC also can be remote with web browser, but I think this is not secure enough if we use internet for communication, because if we use web browser, UltraVNC can not encrypted the data. But if use UltraVNC viewer, we can easy use data encryptions plug-in. The default port is 5900 for using with VNC viewer software, and 5800 for using with web browser.

Is UltraVNC Secure Enough?

Nothing is 100% safe. If we have a connection which already share with internet connection, there always have a risk. But I think with the encryptions plug-in, UltraVNC already safe enough than other VNC software which don't have encryptions at all. The encryption is 128 bit keys, and the key file have to be ready at both computer, so this is good because they only transfer the encrypted data only. Also better to change the default server port when we open the computer to remote with UltraVNC.  If we need more-more secure connection, better to install VPN to use together with UltraVNC software.