TeamViewer Remote Control App Gets A Security Upgrade
As many businesses and government agencies have settled in to a work-from-home reality, remote work has also made employees and companies alike more vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
There is an immediate need for mobile apps and other resources to support remote employees.
In particular, knowledge workers who are away from the office frequently use sensitive information and files outside of the corporate firewall. They are also using many SaaS apps and cloud services and these developments demand a remote work platform that is secure by design.
One of the tools enabling remote work is the possibility to gain remote access to computers and other devices for administration and technical support. TeamViewer Remote Control app is one of them, widely available and used for remotely controlling computers, tablets, smartphones, and other devices from a mobile device. After a severe TeamViewer vulnerability allowed attackers to steal system credentials in what proved an unsuccessful attempt to contaminate a water supply station. Its not known how many other such exploits may have succeeded.
In response, the company has recently added another layer of security to its app, along with several new usability improvements.
This new security feature leverages native biometrics face and fingerprint authentication on Apple and Android mobile devices. The TeamViewer Remote Control app can now be locked behind biometric authentication, which prevents unauthorised access even if the mobile device is left unlocked. Unauthorised access can similarly be blocked on the account-level in TeamViewer with two-factor authentication (TFA) and incoming connections can also be verified via TFA push notifications. Additional embedded security features include a ‘black screen’ for connections from mobile devices, keeping the information being accessed on the remotely located device private.
After one or multiple mobile devices are registered, users will be asked to allow or deny each connection via the registered devices.
A secure, agile, and effective digital workforce is a requirement for business success. Firms that can’t support work-from-anywhere needs while eliminating barriers to apps and data will find themselves at a competitive disadvantage. In addition, they’ll be hard-pressed to hire and retain top talent. Cyber security investments like this are paying off for companies that modernise their infrastructures and train their people for remote work quickly, without compromising security.
Microsoft: HelpNet Security: Now Secure: PWC: Techtarget: I-HLS:
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