by Symantec
Buy new: $43.99
8 used & new from $0.49
(Visit the Bestsellers in Networking list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)
Access office e-mail, run company applications from home or on the road, and transfer files to an Internet server with pcAnywhere 10.0 Host & Remote. While version 10.0 retains the application's core functionality, most of the handholding wizards of the previous version have been removed. Inexperienced home users should note that pcAnywhere is essentially a business product, as its complexity will leave novices flummoxed.
That said, there are some noteworthy new features in version 10.0, including a simpler user interface, better handling of encryption, support for the excellent LiveUpdate facility, and tighter overall security. If you run Windows NT or 2000, you can now take advantage of "installation packages" that add customized versions of pcAnywhere to other remote systems.
It might lack wizards, but once set up, pcAnywhere 10.0 is pretty easy to use. Merely connect to a remote host PC and the application's desktop appears in a window on your remote PC. Once connected, you can do most of the things you could if you were actually sitting in front of the other PC. Security wasn't great in the previous version, but that's been rectified in this release--pcAnywhere now has more security features than any other remote control application, especially if you're running Windows 2000. The application is nearly hackproof, too. It can now recognize even the slightest change to its DLLs, registry entries, and executables, and it won't work if it discovers modifications.
While less experienced home users will probably be better off with products like LapLink, pcAnywhere remains a full-featured and sophisticated option for the businessperson who needs to operate a PC from afar. --Roger Gann
pcAnywhere from Symantec is remote-control software that provides encryption, remote call back, connection confirmation, and authentication. A new wizard makes it easier than ever to set up encryption, and now you have more options for authenticating users, including FTP, HTTP, generic LDAP, ADS, NDS, and NT domains. For additional protection, pcAnywhere creates a log of every file accessed, every application launched, and all of its own activities (such as login attempts). Because response time is important when you're working with a remote system, pcAnywhere now includes an optimization wizard to help you speed up your sessions. It also works with cable and DSL modems for faster remote connections. In version 10.0, you can navigate directories faster and easier on both machines when you're transferring files. The AutoTransfer function lets you upload or download multiple files automatically. Using the new Packager feature, you can even save disk space on users' systems by creating custom installations containing just the pcAnywhere functions you need.