RE: GOTOMYPC Corporate?

["Mark Medici" <mark () dbma com>]

I have used it myself, and have recommended it to clients because it is a reliable and simple method to circumvent 
firewalls an NAT boundaries for outside remote access.  And I have recommended to other clients to block it outright 
for the same reason.

It's primarily a policy concern.  Either you want to allow remote access or you don't.  If you do want to allow remote 
access, then GoToMyPC is a very nice and very well-supported application choice that can be installed and used by a 
novice.  The ongoing cost of GoToMyPC is only slightly higher than the support and maintenance costs of doing it 
yourself via VPN and VNC, and is much more usable (IMHO).  The two-year cost is lower than pcAnywhere when initial 
setup and ongoing support are factored-in, plus GoToMyPC is better supported (every try to get support from Symantec?) 
and "nicer" and more convenient to use.

GoToMyPC does encrypt traffic, requires two separate passwords to connect to a host, plus optionally a valid Windows 
logon/password on the host.  This is accomplished without drilling holes through your firewall and/or installing or 
configuring ad hoc VPN connections between the remote and the host.  In fact, the GoToMyPC remote can be a kiosk or 
Internet café machine -- it doesn't have to be a notebook or home computer.

____________________________________________________________
DBM Associates * Mark A. Medici * Senior Consulting Engineer
Whitehouse Station, NJ USA * +1 908-534-1665
mark () dbma com * http://www.dbma.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pcannon9 () comcast net [mailto:pcannon9 () comcast net]
> Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 3:40 PM
> To: pcannon9 () comcast net
> Cc: security-basics () securityfocus com
> Subject: Re: GOTOMYPC Corporate?
>
> When the issue came up here last year my concerns were similiar to yours.
>
> I did the same think you suggested, vpn with vnc, then null routed the
> gotomypc servers outbound in case someone installed it locally.
>
> Pat Cannon
> Network Administrator
> Transcentive
> > So what is the general consensus on GOTOMYPC Corporate?
> >
> > Personally, I don't have alot of trust or warm and fuzzy feelings about
> it,
> > due to the risks it poses, and the possible potential of PHI
> > (Private/Personal Health Information), and Financial data being leaked
> out.
> > As well as the concerns with it pertaining to HIPAA compliancy.
> >
> > What is everyones elses feelings on it?
> >
> > Personally, I would rather have them come in on a VPN client, and use a
> > internal VNC (or other remote desktop) solution.
> >
> > Scott C. Swenka
> > Network Security
> > Sun Health Corporation
> **************************************************************************
> *****
> > The information contained in this transmission may be legally privileged
> > and/or confidential information. Any dissemination, distribution or
> copying
> > of this transmission by anyone other than the intended recipient is
> > strictly prohibited. If you receive this in error, please inform the
> sender
> > immediately and remove any record of this message.
> **************************************************************************
> *****
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ---
> > Ethical Hacking at the InfoSec Institute. Mention this ad and get $545
> off
> > any course! All of our class sizes are guaranteed to be 10 students or
> less
> > to facilitate one-on-one interaction with one of our expert instructors.
> > Attend a course taught by an expert instructor with years of in-the-
> field
> > pen testing experience in our state of the art hacking lab. Master the
> skills
> > of an Ethical Hacker to better assess the security of your organization.
> > Visit us at:
> > http://www.infosecinstitute.com/courses/ethical_hacking_training.html
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----
> >
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -
> Ethical Hacking at the InfoSec Institute. Mention this ad and get $545 off
> any course! All of our class sizes are guaranteed to be 10 students or
> less
> to facilitate one-on-one interaction with one of our expert instructors.
> Attend a course taught by an expert instructor with years of in-the-field
> pen testing experience in our state of the art hacking lab. Master the
> skills
> of an Ethical Hacker to better assess the security of your organization.
> Visit us at:
> http://www.infosecinstitute.com/courses/ethical_hacking_training.html
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --



---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ethical Hacking at the InfoSec Institute. Mention this ad and get $545 off
any course! All of our class sizes are guaranteed to be 10 students or less
to facilitate one-on-one interaction with one of our expert instructors.
Attend a course taught by an expert instructor with years of in-the-field
pen testing experience in our state of the art hacking lab. Master the skills
of an Ethical Hacker to better assess the security of your organization.
Visit us at:
http://www.infosecinstitute.com/courses/ethical_hacking_training.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------