GoToMyPC, cable operators.
In discussing ExpertCity’s GoToMyPC in his column “‘Always on’ programs pose an ‘always on’ threat,” Kevin Tolly states : “While there is clearly no evil intention on the part of ExpertCity, I find it unsettling to have scads of corporate desktops in constant communication with a third-party service that, through its ‘mole,’ can determine how often your PC is busy, when you’re in the office and so forth.”
It’s more than unsettling. This is essentially a third-party VPN that your company’s IT group might not have approved. Using it might violate corporate security and network policies, such as who owns and runs your company perimeter services (that’s what a VPN is), your acceptable use policy, your authentication policy, and others. One possible approach to deal with this is to block all outbound IP traffic from your company to the GoToMyPC subnet.
In light of Steve Janss’ favorable review of GoToMyPC (“Telework tools that work,” DocFinder: 2824), I was surprised to note inaccuracies in Kevin Tolly’s statements about the security and administrative features of GoToMyPC Corporate 3.0.
Tolly states, “While the company offers packaged enterprise services, they don’t offer an ‘opt out’ for companies that don’t want to let desktops in their domain use the service.” This statement warrants correction. GoToMyPC does offer a free service to organizations that wish to prevent unauthorized use of GoToMyPC. The Authorization Management Service (AMS) allows an organization to permit only authorized corporate accounts to use GoToMyPC Corporate within their corporate LAN. The service blocks personal and other corporate accounts from setting up or accessing a computer within the LAN. The service is open to any organization that would like to restrict usage of GoToMyPC within their LAN.
The AMS has been a widely successful program since its introduction in May. We explain the AMS in our FAQ on the GoToMyPC Web site (www.gotomypc.com).
Heidi Wieland
Manager, Corporate Communications
John Connolly
Product Manager
GoToMyPC Corporate Products
ExpertCity
Santa Barbara, Calif.
Tolly replies: I am glad to see that this feature is available. In conducting my research, I investigated the information supplied in the Corporate section of your site rather than the generic Help path off of your home page. I suspect that noncustomer companies looking to block GoToMyPC access would have as difficult a time as I did in finding the information buried in a general FAQ page. A prominent icon about AMS on the Corporate page and an online form to fill out to request it would be welcome.
Regarding Johna Till Johnson’s column “Why the cable companies will win:” Another point to ponder is the increased use of cell phones. Many households are getting rid of their land lines altogether and using their cell phones. For them, it’s more practical and cost-efficient to just use a cable broadband offering. I’m renting an apartment and will use my cell phone exclusively rather than purchase a telephone service. I also will get cable TV and a cable modem for Internet access.
