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Yes. AnyDesk is often touted as a TeamViewer replacement but they’re just as bad and shady. Both subreddits are full of users helping grandma only to get banne

Yes. AnyDesk is often touted as a TeamViewer replacement but they’re just as bad and shady. Both subreddits are full of users helping grandma only to get banned for commercial use, for example. I gave RustDesk (FOSS) a try and it was nice but slow and I don’t currently have the time or resources to self host near me to see if that makes a difference. There is a need in this space for a good home use Remote Desktop that’s easy to use and if touted as free for non-commercial use, doesn’t end up banning you later without hard evidence (or just limit free users to 1 session, etc). Right now they all seem to be chasing medium/large/enterprise money which makes sense I suppose due to the current state of remote work.

lotsofpulp 4y ago
Why is Apple able and willing to offer free, easy to use Remote Desktop capability for both macOS and iOS, but Microsoft does not? Same with Apple offering an awesome PDF manipulating program with Preview and print to PDF, and Microsoft taking many more years to come up with just print to PDF.
- bzxcvbn 4y ago
  Except Microsoft does, it's called QuickAssist and it's installed by default. Calling it up is as easy as pressing Win+Ctrl+Q. (Or the normal way in the app list, obviously.) At this point, using TeamViewer is just inertia.
  - lotsofpulp 4y ago
    That is news to me! I’ve been using chrome Remote Desktop for the longest time. Maybe I can drop it now.
    - efreak 4y ago
      If you're using it personally to connect to your own machines, try looking up the remote desktop assistant. I use this in combination with the VPN built into my router. I really wish there was a way to set up an RDP gateway without Microsoft server or other complicated setups. There's an open source project rdpgw[0] that provides an RDP gateway, however it requires the use of docker, a web server, and other software. It's not suitable for small use cases like mine (once a month or so, I need to start wsl while away from home, or restart BubbleUPnP service). VPNs and docker add quite a bit of overhead to a system that's already running close to capacity.
  - sireat 4y ago
    Sadly QuickAssist seems to be moving backwards.. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/windows-admins-frustrated-by-quick-assist-moving-to-microsoft-store/ https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/windows-admi... The big advantage TeamViewer and AnyDesk offers is the ease of installation for non-technical users.
    - bzxcvbn 4y ago
      If someone is able to download an exe and install a program, they're able to click on a link to the store and install the program... Besides, that article is outdated. As far as I can tell, every complaint has been fixed.
      - sireat 4y ago
        Everone knows how to use a browser to some extent. Windows Store adds one extra step(either a complicated link or search in store) Yes it is a trivial step for most users but those needing the help most will struggle. https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/quick-assist https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/quick-assist is not exactly shining with positive reviews. That said I will evaluate QuickAssist and see if it actually meets my needs.
        paranoidrobot 4y ago
        That link gives me a wonderfully helpful "Invalid product ID" message. Not even styled, it's just a HTTP 400 page with some cookies and that message. No HTML. Yay Microsoft...
        sireat 4y ago
        Indeed! The actual link is https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/quick-assist/9P7BP5VNWKX5 https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/quick-assist/9P7BP5V... That is about as easy for grandma as 0118 999 881 99 9119 7253 phone number..
  - paranoidrobot 4y ago
    > TeamViewer is just inertia Or because: - you don't know it exists - you don't know what version of Windows someone is on, and figuring that out is painful - they can't figure out the Microsoft Store to install it (since apparently it's moved to the Store now) - or because you don't have a Windows machine to connect from.
ssheth 4y ago
Try MeshCentral .. free and open-source but you can use the "Public Server" to give you a quick and easy remote desktop access to another device you setup the agent on. https://meshcentral.com/info/ https://meshcentral.com/info/
y-c-o-m-b 4y ago
FWIW I've been using AnyDesk for free for connecting to my work laptops (located at home, but they're on my work VPN) from my home PC for at least 3 years now with zero issues. I've been waiting for the day that they finally pull the plug, but it's yet to happen (knock on wood).
- inversetelecine 4y ago
  I used it fine up until lockdowns and work from home stuff. Account was flagged sometime early 21 along with a flood of other users who were initially ignored and then told to fill out a form and hope to get allowed back on. My AD use was three home computers to either view them (LAN) or to assist my parents with various questions occasionally. Never any server OS used or on the network. No domain controllers, no email servers, heck at the time I didn’t even have any Linux or BSD machines.. physical or virtual. It was baffling and forever soured my view of AD.
sireat 4y ago
Supposedly AnyDesk was started by ex-TeamViewer employees. Personally I've been very happy with AnyDesk after migrating 3 years ago from Teamviewer. Seems a bit more performant too. I've had no commercial nagging from AnyDesk despite using it on about 20 computers. (15 of my own + tech support for friends and family) TeamViewer got nasty quite quickly. RDP is nice when it is available but surprisingly less performant on more intensive graphics. There are a variety of open source VNC solutions but they suffer from the lack of firewall punch through and setup issues.
- inversetelecine 4y ago
  The performance was good (TeamViewer was still slightly better imho) I just took issue with the commercial detection problems and then having to go to a webpage to beg for them to unban you. I agree given the two options I’d choose and recommend AnyDesk first. Over a 50/50 commercial wireless link RDP over wireguard was best for most users that I had test. AD/TV a close second and VNC was so perceptually laggy that it was a no go from the start.
- michaelcampbell 4y ago
  Much the same with me. I have it on about 5 computers in/around my house and work, and have never had any commercial naggings, nor do I use it commercially.

lotsofpulp 4y ago

Why is Apple able and willing to offer free, easy to use Remote Desktop capability for both macOS and iOS, but Microsoft does not? Same with Apple offering an awesome PDF manipulating program with Preview and print to PDF, and Microsoft taking many more years to come up with just print to PDF.

bzxcvbn 4y ago
Except Microsoft does, it's called QuickAssist and it's installed by default. Calling it up is as easy as pressing Win+Ctrl+Q. (Or the normal way in the app list, obviously.) At this point, using TeamViewer is just inertia.
- lotsofpulp 4y ago
  That is news to me! I’ve been using chrome Remote Desktop for the longest time. Maybe I can drop it now.
  - efreak 4y ago
    If you're using it personally to connect to your own machines, try looking up the remote desktop assistant. I use this in combination with the VPN built into my router. I really wish there was a way to set up an RDP gateway without Microsoft server or other complicated setups. There's an open source project rdpgw[0] that provides an RDP gateway, however it requires the use of docker, a web server, and other software. It's not suitable for small use cases like mine (once a month or so, I need to start wsl while away from home, or restart BubbleUPnP service). VPNs and docker add quite a bit of overhead to a system that's already running close to capacity.
- sireat 4y ago
  Sadly QuickAssist seems to be moving backwards.. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/windows-admins-frustrated-by-quick-assist-moving-to-microsoft-store/ https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/windows-admi... The big advantage TeamViewer and AnyDesk offers is the ease of installation for non-technical users.
  - bzxcvbn 4y ago
    If someone is able to download an exe and install a program, they're able to click on a link to the store and install the program... Besides, that article is outdated. As far as I can tell, every complaint has been fixed.
    - sireat 4y ago
      Everone knows how to use a browser to some extent. Windows Store adds one extra step(either a complicated link or search in store) Yes it is a trivial step for most users but those needing the help most will struggle. https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/quick-assist https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/quick-assist is not exactly shining with positive reviews. That said I will evaluate QuickAssist and see if it actually meets my needs.
      - paranoidrobot 4y ago
        That link gives me a wonderfully helpful "Invalid product ID" message. Not even styled, it's just a HTTP 400 page with some cookies and that message. No HTML. Yay Microsoft...
        sireat 4y ago
        Indeed! The actual link is https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/quick-assist/9P7BP5VNWKX5 https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/quick-assist/9P7BP5V... That is about as easy for grandma as 0118 999 881 99 9119 7253 phone number..
- paranoidrobot 4y ago
  > TeamViewer is just inertia Or because: - you don't know it exists - you don't know what version of Windows someone is on, and figuring that out is painful - they can't figure out the Microsoft Store to install it (since apparently it's moved to the Store now) - or because you don't have a Windows machine to connect from.

ssheth 4y ago

Try MeshCentral .. free and open-source but you can use the "Public Server" to give you a quick and easy remote desktop access to another device you setup the agent on. https://meshcentral.com/info/ https://meshcentral.com/info/

y-c-o-m-b 4y ago

FWIW I've been using AnyDesk for free for connecting to my work laptops (located at home, but they're on my work VPN) from my home PC for at least 3 years now with zero issues. I've been waiting for the day that they finally pull the plug, but it's yet to happen (knock on wood).

inversetelecine 4y ago
I used it fine up until lockdowns and work from home stuff. Account was flagged sometime early 21 along with a flood of other users who were initially ignored and then told to fill out a form and hope to get allowed back on. My AD use was three home computers to either view them (LAN) or to assist my parents with various questions occasionally. Never any server OS used or on the network. No domain controllers, no email servers, heck at the time I didn’t even have any Linux or BSD machines.. physical or virtual. It was baffling and forever soured my view of AD.

sireat 4y ago

Supposedly AnyDesk was started by ex-TeamViewer employees. Personally I've been very happy with AnyDesk after migrating 3 years ago from Teamviewer. Seems a bit more performant too. I've had no commercial nagging from AnyDesk despite using it on about 20 computers. (15 of my own + tech support for friends and family) TeamViewer got nasty quite quickly. RDP is nice when it is available but surprisingly less performant on more intensive graphics. There are a variety of open source VNC solutions but they suffer from the lack of firewall punch through and setup issues.

inversetelecine 4y ago
The performance was good (TeamViewer was still slightly better imho) I just took issue with the commercial detection problems and then having to go to a webpage to beg for them to unban you. I agree given the two options I’d choose and recommend AnyDesk first. Over a 50/50 commercial wireless link RDP over wireguard was best for most users that I had test. AD/TV a close second and VNC was so perceptually laggy that it was a no go from the start.
michaelcampbell 4y ago
Much the same with me. I have it on about 5 computers in/around my house and work, and have never had any commercial naggings, nor do I use it commercially.