Teamviewer "play fair"

[Nigel_O]

I've been using the free version of Teamviewer for a couple of years, in order to access my home PC from work, so that I don't get spotted accessing personal emails or browsing Pistonheads. when I really should be working.

Today, I've been told I'm using Teamviewer for "Commercial Purposes" and I have to upgrade to a business licence at a measly $50 a month....

Yes, I know it's free and I've had two years of not paying, but I'm struggling to see how accessing a personal PC from an office PC is for commercial purposes. However, I have to admit, it's in Teamviewer's T&Cs - clearly they have a slightly wider definition of "commercial purposes" than I do...

So - two questions:-

1) Does anyone know how to pursuade Teamviewer that I'm not usng it for commercial purposes
2) I've looked at Chrome Remote Desktop, but it appear not to allow unattended access - anyone know how to get around this?

TBH, it'll all be a moot point shortly when I have to work from home again, but right now, its a bit of a PITA

[bitchstewie]

I believe Teamviewer take a pretty basic view that if you're on a domain joined PC (which your work PC almost certainly is) you're probably using it for business purposes.

Check your IT policies at work as they may have far more of an issue with you using Teamviewer than they do you browsing stuff.

It's the kind of thing that can cause red flags.

[Venturist]

Just give them a message, they are refreshingly amicable about resolving these when they do come up.

[deckster]

VNC or just standard Windows remote access might be options as well.

But, as above, I'd suggest that using unauthorised software to perform unauthorised personal activities during business hours is the bigger issue here.

[mickytruelove]

I have had the same problem recently,

Google Anydesk. Its free and will not block you like Teamviewer, It has all the same features and some things are actually nicer to use.

[The_Jackal]

Your employment status should be your bigger worry.
It would be quite easy for your network administrator to spot you are using Teamviewer.

[vaud]

Nigel_O said:

I've been using the free version of Teamviewer for a couple of years, in order to access my home PC from work, so that I don't get spotted accessing personal emails or browsing Pistonheads. when I really should be working.

I'd be more worried about:

a) installing non-approved s/w on a company PC
b) accessing a home computer from work

Just buy an ipad and sync it to your personal phone?

[blank]

What do you mean by unattended access on Chrome Remote Desktop?

As long as the PC is on it will work from the login screen.

There might be a small setting change to get it to start up before login, can't remember exactly what but it's not difficult.

[DanL]

I’d imagine the thing you want to avoid is for them to approach your company to ask them to resolve the licence issue... In my view you’ve been rather daft, and may be in breach of your company’s IT policy.

Stop using TeamViewer, agree a figure to make them go away (you hadn’t realised you needed a licence, you’ll pay for a month and then stop using it, whatever is needed to settle their current issue with you), and cross your fingers would be my advice. That’s without knowing how large or competent a firm you work for, mind you!

[Nigel_O]

Thanks for the feedback - all very fair points

The company I work for is very small and doesn't really have a hard & fast IT policy, other than the obvious common sense approach of "don't download anything you're not 100% confident is genuine". However, I know that internet traffic is occasionally monitored,so I would rather they see an occasional Teamviewer use rather than occasional Pistonheads / Westfield forum / Alfa owners club use.

However, I accept that I've benefitted from a couple of year's worth of free Teamviewer use, so I'm not going to argue with them. I'd read that Chrome Remote desktop needed a code from the host to access, but as mentioned above, it will allow unattended access, so I'm a happy bunny again