A simple installable tool inspired by UltraVNC's SingleClick tool for computers running the UltraVNC server and need to initiate a reverse connection to a list of support agents who are running the UltraVNC Viewer running on Listen mode.
This allows users or customers running the UltraVNC server to connect to support agents using a reverse connection system. Useful when certain IT remote tools are not working, the user is behind a firewall blocking incoming connections, or when users are unable to provide certain basic information. This information can be found in the tool when started up as shown on the image above.
This tool would be suitable for a Service Desk or a Support Team. The users or customers' computers would be running UltraVNC Server on their machines, and the support agents would be running the UltraVNC Viewer on Listen mode. The users or customers would also have the SD Remote Tool installed on their machines (check the Installation and Deploying section below).
Once a user calls the Service Desk or Support Team for help, if the support agent cannot initialize a connection to the user's computer, then the user could open the SD Remote tool, and select the agent from the list. By doing this, a reverse connection would be initiated from the UltraVNC server running on the user's computer, to the UltraVNC Viewer on the support agent's computer running on Listen Mode. After this is done, a prompt will show up on the support agent's computer asking whether to accept or reject the connection.
The tool also displays some information such as the hostname, username, operative system and IP addresses which may be valuable for the support agent.
This tool can be extremely useful when firewall restrictions apply, such as blocking incoming traffic. Since most firewalls are setup to block incoming traffic, but not outgoing traffic, a reverse connection will help indeed.
SD Remote Tool can be customized for the most part without recompiling the executable.
agents.txt
Support agents should be included here in a agent,hostname format.
These will be shown on the tool when it is started. When an agent is selected and the "Connect" button is pressed, a connection will be initiated to the host of the support agent, prompting a question to the agent to accept, or reject the connection from the user or customer. Once the connection is accepted, the support agent will be able to control the user's computer.
icon.ico
The icon can be replaced by another icon that suits the organization or company. (Needs recompiling)
logo.bmp
This logo goes on the top right side of the tool's window (Insert LOGO here). Can be replaced with a logo that suits the organization or company. Size is 174x60
strings.txt
These are the text strings shown below the agents list. Use this to provide steps for the users to follow. Top, middle, and bottom strings.
UltraVNC supports encrypted connections. This is a must if these connections are going to be done over an unsecure environment. Please check this encryption guide.
This tool is quite old, not maintained anymore and it is provided as-is. It was written for a customer I worked with. Written in AutoIt v3 and its source contains compiler directives of the AutoIt3Wrapper as follows:
#Region ;**** Directives created by AutoIt3Wrapper_GUI ****
#AutoIt3Wrapper_Icon=icon.ico
#AutoIt3Wrapper_Outfile=helpdesk.exe
#EndRegion ;**** Directives created by AutoIt3Wrapper_GUI ****
You might need to install the full SciTE v3 editor to be able to read these directives when compiling by default.
You will find the source Helpdesktool.au3 inside the src folder.
AutoIt is a great and powerful scripting language that has been running around for years. Unfortunately, malware has been written using this scripting language and some Antivirus software might trigger alerts. Please read AutoIt and Malware for more information.
This tool acts as a frontend for UltraVNC's viewer listen mode using the reverse connection capability where the viewer will accept incoming connections from a UltraVNC server. However, it can be altered to support any other remote administration tool that supports reverse connections as well, such as other VNC protocol based tools such as TightVNC, TigerVNC, and others. You will need to edit the source code to your needs, though.
An installer script hdremotetool.iss written in InnoSetup is included inside the installer folder. Use this to build your installer so you can deploy it on your users or customer's computers. Also, a compiled installer is provided for testing.
By default, this install script does not ask for a folder to install the software, and it adds the Start Menu and Desktop icon shortcuts.
For silent deployments, use the /SILENT or /VERYSILENT command line parameters when calling the installer. For more info, check the InnoSetup command line parameters documentation.
Q. SD Remote Tool reports UltraVNC is not installed
A. Check that UltraVNC is installed, the following registry keys are checked:
- If OS is 64 bit:
HKLM64\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Ultravnc2_is1\InstallLocation - If OS is 32 bit:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Ultravnc2_is1\InstallLocation
Q. Why is the .exe file so large?
A. AutoIt v3 executables include all libraries and necessary runtimes inside the .exe file so the executable size becomes larger. As a benefit, it can run on any Windows machine out of the box.
Q. The executable file triggers an alert on my Antivirus software
A. AutoIt is a great and powerful scripting language that has been running around for years. Unfortunately, malware has been written using this scripting language and some Antivirus software might trigger alerts. Please read AutoIt and Malware for more information.
Q. Will this work with other remote software?
A. This software is provided as is; it has been developed a long time ago to cover specific needs for a project I worked with in the past. However, by editing the source code you should be able to modify it and make it work with the remote administration tools you might be using.
Q. When compiling the executable using the source, the icon doesn't show up and the file name doesn't match
A. Most likely the compiler is not reading the compiler directives of the AutoIt3Wrapper properly.
Besides installing AutoIt v3, you will also need to install SciTE v3 editor.
I don't know if there is another method to do this without installing the editor, but this is what I have done myself. Please check the Source code section above on this Readme.
Q. Does UltraVNC support encrypted connections?
A. Yes, so do TightVNC and TigerVNC. This is highly recommended on unsecure environments. Please check this encryption guide.
Q. Is this customizable?
A. Yes, everything except the icon. You can customize the logo, the agents list, and the text strings displayed. See the Customization section above.
Q. What is a reverse connection, and what benefits does it provide?
A. A reverse connection is usually used to bypass firewall restrictions on open ports. A firewall usually blocks incoming traffic, but does not block outgoing traffic. This will allow to perform a connection to a machine that might be behind a firewall blocking incoming connections.
Q. What is the UltraVNC listen mode?
A. It is a mode where the UltraVNC viewer (client) is set to listen for incoming connections from a UltraVNC server performing a reverse connection. TightVNC and TigerVNC support it as well.