Download Squad

Ages ago, I used a combination of Hamachi and UltraVNC for hassle-free remote support setups. At the time (again, this was a long time ago), Hamachi had a lot of reliability and speed issues - so I ended up switching to TeamViewer.

Recently, however, I decided to revisit my options. One alternative I happened upon was Comodo's free Easy VPN application.

Like Hamachi, Easy VPN supports multiple virtual networks. To give a friend access, simply provide the name and password and they're ready to join. When logged in, the icon next to their name will turn green and you can then ping, chat, and even remote control to your heart's content. All traffic is 128-bit encrypted.

Ping times and file transfer speeds are respectable and competitive with Hamachi. The remote control software (which feels and works a lot like many VNC apps) works well, and is perfect for quick, long-distance assistance.

Machines connected on a Comodo Easy VPN network function just like the computers attached to your home router. You can share files, folders, and even printers. Need to be able to print on the fancy color laser printer at work from the comfort of your kitchen table? Easy VPN is a hassle-free way to get the job done.

You can read more about how Easy VPN works over at Comodo's web site, where you can also download it. Easy VPN works on Windows XP or newer - both 32 and 64-bit builds.

LogMeIn's unique VPN solution 'Hamachi' has been updated to version 2.

Hamachi - which is free for non profit use for up to 16 nodes (256 nodes are supported in the subscription based paid version) - is a simple to use VPN solution. The VPN provides 256 bit AES encrypted tunneling across public and private networks and is incredibly easy to manage from a web based interface. Multiple secure networks can be created as required, allowing provision of virtual networks on demand to machines on any type of network connection in any location.

Hamachi's excellent performance has always been its strong point and as such it has garnered a huge following amongst gamers who can take advantage of it's low latency connections and rapid expandability. Inviting a new machine to your Hamachi network is as simple as sharing your network number and password.

As well as a shiny new UI, the newly released Hamachi version 2 adds hub and spoke networks, gateway networks, installation links (click to automatically join networks), network management and client management. At the time of writing, the new release seems to be available for Windows only, with no clients available for Mac, Linux or Windows Mobile contrary to the previous release.

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If you haven't heard of GBridge before, here's what it does in a nutshell. Like Hamachi, it creates a zero-config virtual private network between computers. GBridge, as you might guess from the name, uses your Google credentials rather than requiring a separate login.

It's an excellent way to back up, sync, communicate with, and remote control machines you administer regardless of where they're located. One key feature missing in earlier versions was support for Google Apps for domains. The GBridge dev team has responded to numerous requests from forum users, and they're fully supported in version 2.

Sign in using your custom domain details, and GBridge will automatically display all other accounts in your domain. If you use Google Apps in your workplace, the change is a big plus and it makes GBridge a much more compelling app for business use.

To try it out, download the latest version. If you're an IT administrator and use Google Apps at work, GBridge is well worth the install.

It's no April Fools' prank. On April 1st - the same day that Sweden's Draconian new intellectual property legislation (IPRED) goes into effect - the Pirate Bay will debut their new IPREDATOR VPN service.

Where IPRED aims to make it easier for copyright holders to get their hands on ISP log files to investigate suspected transgressors. With IPREDATOR, a user can give "the man" a swift kick in his digital groin and sneak away unscathed while he's doubled over in agony.

No log files are maintained, and all traffic is tunneled, making it more difficult to track activity to a specific user.

Initially, the service will be opened to a select group of 500 testers. Once the kinks have been worked out, IPREDATOR will be available world-wide for a modest 5 Euro monthly fee.

Those who are interested and want to roll the dice in hopes of getting in early can register for the beta at ipredator.se.

[via TorrentFreak]

Hamachi is a great app. So is VNC. Torrents are great, too. You see where I'm going. These are all great on their own - so when Remobo rolled them all in to one, tasty package, I was pretty excited.

Set it up, add your buddies, and you've got an instant, private P2P network. Click the My Shared Files link and create torrents of your folders and files with two clicks. When your buddies view your shares, they'll see a simple web page with links to the torrent downloads. It's simple, and it works quite well.

Clicking windows file sharing on a buddy will display their Windows file and printer shares (like Hamachi does). File access speeds (even over my sluggish DSL) are good, and at least on par with Hamachi's free offering.

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Since our recent invite bonanza, we've enjoyed the heck out of our Hulu membership. But, since its inception, Hulu has been a US-only party. And, while OPENHulu or TVparadise opened up Hulu to a crowd of non-invitees, international users were still out of luck.

Of course if you're willing to trick Hulu into thinking your non-US computer is actually connected to a US internet connection, you can get around that restriction. One way for non-US residents to watch Hulu videos is by using a program called Hotspot Shield. We say "it seems" because, since we are inside the US, we don't have a method of testing whether or not this works.

Here's how it done:

Hotspot Shield is a free program which creates a virtual private network between your computer and a wireless router. While its focus is mainly on protecting your private information from hackers (you've seen them before: those shady characters sunk deep into a comfy chair at Starbucks, a Dell on their lap, a dark beanie almost covering their eyes, a decaf java chip mocha Frappucino melting silently on the table next to them), in this case, it keeps Hulu from recognizing that you are outside the US. Therefore, because Hulu doesn't know where you are from, it assumes the best and gives you full, unadulterated access to all content.

The best thing is, if this works, it will work for all US-only sites (Hello, Pandora)!

International Download Squad readers, please let us know if this works for you in the comments.

[Via profit42.com, thanks Denis!]

Applied Networking, maker of Hamachi, has announced that it has been acquired by LogMeIn, Inc. Hamachi, a free tool described by Applied Networking as "a program that allows you to arrange multiple computers into their own secure network just as if they were connected by a physical network cable," and is a good match for LogMeIn, Inc., which makes browser-based VPN-like remote administration tools LogMeIn and RemotelyAnywhere. The Hamachi developers supply some more details on the official Hamachi forum, or you can read LogMeIn's press release on the acquisition.

Microsoft has now acquired Whale Communications, a maker of VPN (virtual private network) technology. Whale technology uses SSL encryption to provide secure access to business users across unsecured networks. According to Bob Kelly, general manager of Infrastructure Marketing, Microsoft wants to increase the quality and security of their offerings with Whale's technology. This is good news for Microsoft users in the future, and IT departments as well. Whale's products join the ever increasing slew of Microsoft business applications for teleworkers. If you connect to a VPN for work in a corporate environment, Microsoft's acquisition of Whale may find it's way to your desktop soon.

[Via Microsoft PressPass]

It's a pretty simple idea, and not unique. According to Hamachi's site: "With Hamachi you can organize two or more computers with an Internet connection into their own virtual network for direct secure communication." But the devil is in the details... And the details are good. Hamachi is very, very slick. Available right now for Windows and Linux (OS X promised "soon"), Hamachi sets up a VPN between to machines lickety-split. Just as advertised, it's a zero-configuration VPN. What's more, it can simulate up to 5 network cards, and gives you an IP starting with 5— allowing you to pass through a firewall. It's like your LAN on the internet, all with as little fuss as possible. Take it for a spin and let us know what you think in the comments. [Thanks to Fred for the tip]

#	Blogger	Posts	Cmts
1	Jay Hathaway	102	5
2	Lee Mathews	72	21
3	Sebastian Anthony	63	226
4	Brad Linder	35	2
5	Jason Clarke	23	0
6	Grant Robertson	6	2
7	Dolores Parker	6	2
8	Victor Agreda, Jr.	5	1
9	Nik Fletcher	5	0
10	Matt Heerema	3	0
11	Paul O'Brien	2	0
12	John Burke	2	0
13	Download Squad Staff	1	0

Download Squad

VPN posts

Comodo Easy VPN is a fast, free Hamachi alternative for Windows

LogMeIn Hamachi updated to version 2

GBridge gets better with Google Apps support in v2.0

PirateBay's IPREDATOR VPN service to debut on April 1

Remobo: VPN, Chat, Filesharing, Remote Control All-In-One!

Watch Hulu videos outside of the US with Hotspot Shield

Hamachi acquired by LogMeIn

Microsoft buys VPN Whale

Hamachi, open source zero configuration VPN

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