Free Screen Sharing Applications

SoxJox

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2003
7,077
Rock > SoxJox < Hard Place
I am working remote from home and need to be able to share screens with my wife on our home computer.
 
I've done some quick research and see free apps like Join Me and Screenleap.
 
2 questions:
 
1) Any experience/recommendations with any particular app?
2) Any known security or vulnerability issues with these apps?
 
Thanks.
 

Corsi

isn't shy about blowing his wad early
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 3, 2010
12,955
Boston, MA
I've used join.me and have been happy with it.

Can't really answer #2.
 

JerBear

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 11, 2006
1,582
Leeds, ME
Skype can also allow screen sharing.  Chrome also has a remote assistance plugin that works pretty well in my experience.
 

tonyandpals

Well-Known Member
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Mar 18, 2004
7,856
Burlington
Teamviewer might have some options as well. I use it to support my parents instead of driving 40 minutes to their house. I can see their desktop and control it remotely if needed.
 

SumnerH

Malt Liquor Picker
Dope
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Jul 18, 2005
31,885
Alexandria, VA
TeamViewer is one of many solutions implementing the VNC protocol behind the scenes, if you want to cut out the middleman and do it yourself (VNC is as close to a standard as there is for remote screen access and screen sharing, it's also what OS X "Screen Sharing" and Apple Remote Desktop use, what logme.in uses, etc).  Unless you have significant firewall problems, there's no good reason to route yourself through a third party web server rather than connecting directly.  http://www.tightvnc.com/screenshots.php is one decent free implementation.
 

SoxJox

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2003
7,077
Rock > SoxJox < Hard Place
Based on what I know at this point I'm leaning toward Join Me.  When I go to their site, though, it offers only a 2-week free trial.  I'm assuming that I can simply keep renewing every 2 weeks.
 

kelpapa

Costanza's Hero
SoSH Member
Feb 15, 2010
4,637
No. Just click start meeting or the join screen after you have a 9 digit code. 
 
Sometimes they upgrade you to a two-week trial pro account.