Extension To Chrome Brings Remote Desktop Abilities 189
CNET reports that as of yesterday, a new Chrome extension will "let a person on one computer remotely control another across the network." The new remote-desktop capability is in BETA (Google's all-caps version, for emphasis), but is said to work to control any OS from any other OS, so long as both sides are equipped with Chrome and the new extension. Related: Wired is running a profile of
Rajen Sheth — "father of Gmail," and now in charge of Google's Chromebook project as well.
Yeah (Score:5, Insightful)
Sounds exactly like something I want my web browser to be able to do. What could possibly go wrong?
In other words (Score:5, Insightful)
Totally safe (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:technical demo vs. useful tool (Score:5, Insightful)
"Otherwise, what's the difference if one still has to install software on both systems to make it feasible?"
Well, given that TeamViewer starts at $700 for commercial use, I would say there is rather a large difference.
Why get excited over stuff we could do years ago? (Score:2, Insightful)
Something else that I just don't get with "technology" like this is how it's mistakenly seen as "innovative" because it somehow involves a web browser, although it's something we have been able to do for decades using other software.
This is basically the same as telnet, or rsh, or ssh, or VNC, or the many other technologies that do the same thing. Fuck, this is something we could even do in the browser years ago! I remember using a Java applet that let me connect in to computers at work using ssh or VNC. That was at least 10 years ago.
Re:Totally safe (Score:4, Insightful)
Yes another mindlessly idiotic post.
We should eliminate all possible sources of exploits regardless if they are attached to useful things. I have the perfect computer:
- Runs Linux with all the latest security kernel enhancements.
- No browser installed to prevent users from accidentally finding something malicious on the net.
- Not network connected to prevent attacks from outside.
- No monitor to prevent people looking over your shoulder stealing your sensitive data.
- No Powersupply to make sure it can't be turned on, after all a computer that's not running is secure right?
Yes it is a brilliant idea, for many reasons. Yes there's a possible security exploit. Yes it's quite probably a risk worth taking.
Re:Login Screen (Score:5, Insightful)
It sounds like it could be an alternative to WebEx, for those who use it for remote support.
It beats the hell out of trying to get most adults to follow simple verbal instructions.
Ever work a technical support job? After explaining to an otherwise educated person (i.e. educated stupid) for the fifth time that when you ask him to "right-click with the right mouse button" it is not the same as "double-click (with the left)" you start thinking about remote desktop yourself.
Thankfully that was a long time ago. After a while, you stop thinking of involuntary sterilization as a viable option.
Re:Hat trick (Score:4, Insightful)
Yeah, thinking like that is what gave us Melissa [wikipedia.org].
When you design software, you can either design with security as part of the architecture or not. Secure software designs still have problems, but it's the difference between a pinhole and a barn door.
Unix systems were much more secure than Windows systems for years (whether they are now is up to debate). The reason is that Microsoft had to take drastic measures over more than a decade to secure their system was because their architecture was never designed with security in mind. Unix didn't have the problem - as a multiuser system, security was part of the design, so replacing insecure pieces with secure components (think rsh -> ssh, crypt() to md5(), shadow, etc.) was much easier.
In order to have a remote desktop application be part of a web browser, you need to break the security of the browser and reach the base system. I don't know how the extension framework for Chrome works (I only use it for webcomics), but I would definitely think twice before installing something like this onto a piece of software that regularly communicates with untrusted data (which is primarily what a web browser does).