TeamViewer

TeamViewer
Teamviewer 11 on Windows 10
Developer(s) TeamViewer GmbH, Germany
Stable release(s) [±]
Windows (desktop app) 13.2.26558 / October 4, 2018 (2018-10-04)[1]
macOS 13.2.14328 / September 11, 2018 (2018-09-11)[2]
Linux 13.2.26559 / October 4, 2018 (2018-10-04)[3]
Android 13.2.9356 / August 2, 2018 (2018-08-02)[4]
iOS 13.2.111907 / October 6, 2018 (2018-10-06)[5]
Windows (UWP app) 13.0.100.0[6]
BlackBerry OS 12.0.0.6394 / February 1, 2017 (2017-02-01)[7]
Chrome OS 13.0.281 / October 30, 2017 (2017-10-30)[8]
Operating system Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, Windows Phone 8, Windows RT, BlackBerry
Type Remote administration, Web conferencing
License Freemium
Website www.teamviewer.com/en/

TeamViewer is proprietary computer software for remote control, desktop sharing, online meetings, web conferencing and file transfer between computers.[9][10][11][12]

TeamViewer is free for non-commercial use.[13] For commercial users, there are Business, Premium and Corporate licences available with varying feature sets. There is an algorithm in place to detect exploiters of the free version based on usage patterns, such as connection duration and number of devices connected to. TeamViewer limits connectivity in case users are flagged as commercial.[14][15] For false positives, TeamViewer is offering a website to submit proof that one is not using the software commercially.[16] Required processing times for unflagging false positive are between 7 and 30 days.[17]

Features

TeamViewer is available for Microsoft Windows, macOS,[18][19] Linux,[20] Chrome OS,[21] iOS,[22] Android,[23] Windows RT,[24] Windows Phone 8[25] and BlackBerry operating systems. It is also possible to access a machine running TeamViewer with a web browser.[26] While the main focus of the application is remote control of computers, collaboration and presentation features are included.[27]

History

The software is distributed by the German company TeamViewer GmbH, which was founded in Göppingen, Germany in 2005. As of 2018, TeamViewer has local representations in Australia and the USA.

Two outside investments were placed in TeamViewer since 2010. The Durham, North Carolina-based company GFI Software acquired a majority stake in TeamViewer in 2010. The London-based private equity firm Permira took over GFI's stake in TeamViewer in 2014.[28]

Security and Scams

Encryption and security features

TeamViewer includes encryption based on 2048 RSA private/public key exchange and AES (256-bit) session encryption, two-factor authentication, enforced password reset on unusual activity and a listing feature for trusted devices (Whitelisting).[29]

Remote service scams using TeamViewer

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, most often using the name of companies 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.[30][31] It was reported that ransomware programs were utilizing TeamViewer as a tool to obtain remote access to infected machines.[32][33] In the UK, the ISP TalkTalk Group blocked many remote access tools to protect its customers from remote service scams. They remain blocked as of August, 2018.[34]

Account access misuse

In June 2016, hundreds of TeamViewer users reported having their computers accessed by an unauthorized address in China and bank accounts misappropriated.[35] However, TeamViewer said that "neither was TeamViewer hacked nor is there a security hole, TeamViewer is safe to use and has proper security measures in place. Our evidence points to careless use as the cause of the reported issue, a few extra steps will prevent potential abuse."[36]

Following the reported misuse, TeamViewer went offline several hours due to a denial-of-service attack.[37] The company published a statement on its website summarizing the events and giving guidance in how users can protect themselves.[38] TeamViewer referred to previous LinkedIn, Tumblr, and MySpace security breaches where millions of email and password combos were hacked and the stolen login credentials were also valid for the TeamViewer accounts of the victims.[39]

Miscellaneous

In July 2018, The Register reported the widespread use of TeamViewer in the BDSM scene for HD live video sessions following the observation that many posts on Twitter exist where these kind of services are offered.[40]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "TeamViewer". Softpedia. SoftNews. 4 October 2018.
  2. ↑ "TeamViewer for Mac". Softpedia. SoftNews. 11 September 2018.
  3. ↑ "TeamViewer". TeamViewer. TeamViewer. 4 October 2018.
  4. ↑ "TeamViewer". GooglePlay. Google. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  5. ↑ "TeamViewer: Remote Control". App Store. Apple. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  6. ↑ "TeamViewer: Remote Control". Windows Store. Microsoft. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  7. ↑ "TeamViewer: Remote Control". BlackBerry World. BlackBerry Limited. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  8. ↑ "TeamViewer". Chrome Web Store. Google. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  9. ↑ "TeamViewer (Remote Support)". University of New England (UNE). 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  10. ↑ Carl D. Rinker (16 March 2015). Advanced Home Server - Making the Complicated Easier. Carl D. Rinker. pp. 279–. GGKEY:QQADF012Z6P.
  11. ↑ "TeamViewer". PCMAG. 2017-09-07. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  12. ↑ "TeamViewer Releases Major Spring Feature Update". Business Wire. 2018-03-20. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  13. ↑ "TeamViewer – Free for Personal Use". www.teamviewer.com. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  14. ↑ "Why do I see 'Commercial use suspected' / 'Commercial use detected'". 2017-03-30. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  15. ↑ "How exactly is "personal use" defined?". 2017-03-14. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  16. ↑ "TeamViewer – Commercial Use Suspected". www.teamviewer.com. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  17. ↑ "Why do I see 'Commercial use suspected' / 'Commercial use detected'". 2017-03-30. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  18. ↑ TeamViewer V4desktop collaboration app now Mac-compatible Philip Michaels, Macworld
  19. ↑ Article comparing screen-sharing software, Seth Rosenblatt, Cnet download blog
  20. ↑ "TeamViewer 5 for Linux released". Support.teamviewer.com. 2010-04-15. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  21. ↑ "TeamViewer for Chromebooks - Work Better On-the-go". TeamViewer Blog. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
  22. ↑ TeamViewer iPad App Provides Remote Access to PCs David Roe, CMSWire
  23. ↑ "App (Beta) for Android released". TeamViewer. 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2010-11-25.
  24. ↑ "TeamViewer Touch App for Windows 8 released". Teamviewer. 2012-10-29. Retrieved 2012-12-10.
  25. ↑ "TeamViewer® Launches New App for Windows Phone 8". TeamViewer. 2013-06-11. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  26. ↑ Spick, Geoff, "Join the crowd", Teamviewer 4.1 (article), CMS Wire .
  27. ↑ "Engadget". Engadget. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  28. ↑ "Permira funds to acquire leading software firm TeamViewer from GFI Software" (PDF). Permira. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-05-21. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  29. ↑ "TeamViewer Introduces New Security Measures to Thwart Hacks". PCMag UK. 2016-06-04. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  30. ↑ "What happens if you play along with a Microsoft 'tech support' scam?". Wired. UK. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  31. ↑ "Man records phone scammers; listen and learn what not to do". Macleans Magazine. (contained in audio recording)
  32. ↑ "When your inbox has a surprise and it's called ransomware". GFI Blog. 2017-07-14. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
  33. ↑ "Surprise Ransomware Installed via TeamViewer and Executes from Memory". Bleeping Computer. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
  34. ↑ Hall, Kat (9 March 2017). "Brit ISP TalkTalk blocks control tool TeamViewer". The Register. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  35. ↑ "TeamViewer denies hack after PCs hijacked, PayPal accounts drained". The Register. UK. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
  36. ↑ "Hack Suspected on TeamViewer After Users Report Unauthorized Connections - Security News - Trend Micro USA". www.trendmicro.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  37. ↑ "Hack Suspected on TeamViewer After Users Report Unauthorized Connections". Trend Micro. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
  38. ↑ "A Letter to TeamViewer Users on the Recent Cyber Attacks". TeamViewer Blog. 2016-06-06. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  39. ↑ "TeamViewer beefs up account security after rash of PC, Mac hijacks". Retrieved 2018-07-13.
  40. ↑ Speed, Richard (10 July 2018). "TeamViewer's big in Twitter's domination-as-a-service scene". The Register. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
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