Community


6.3.0.4 hide host icon

Links used in this discussion
Michael Taylor, User (Posts: 50)
Jun 25, 2015 9:38:51 pm EDT
Support level: Free or trial
we could argue about this forever.. your last post proves this point. . I could address each of your responses but to be honest its a waste of time...

take care.
Conrad Sallian, Support (Posts: 3061)
Jun 25, 2015 9:52:10 pm EDT
Hi Michael,

I can only say that I tried to explain our point as best as I could, specifically the reason behind this feature update.

Thank you for your input!
George Karp, User (Posts: 1)
Aug 14, 2015 11:47:06 pm EDT
Support level: Free or trial
Hi Conrad. All I can say is that RMS company decision to remove this feature is not a good one for many admins out there. The fact is that sometimes we need to support people without them knowing that somebody is watching. Also, it may be helpful in many other situations.

As far as your company talking to Antivirus Analytics - it's quite an ambiguous assertion. You guys probably talked to Dr Web and Kaspersky. Since AVG and Symantec never, never reacted to RMS as a virus. Instead of proving your point to those companies, you decided to give up and remove the feature. This is a SHAME, to say the least.

As far as I'm concerned, version 6.3.0.3 is good enough and supports Hiding the icon. Neither of good antivirus programs ever gave me a trouble about RMS. So yours and your company excuses are lame.
Edited:George Karp - Aug 14, 2015 11:48:18 pm EDT
Conrad Sallian, Support (Posts: 3061)
Aug 16, 2015 4:57:02 am EDT
Hello George,

Since AVG and Symantec never, never reacted to RMS as a virus

Sorry, this is not so. Both AVG and Symantec falsely detected our program in the past, including very recently.

Instead of proving your point to those companies, you decided to give up and remove the feature. This is a SHAME, to say the least.

There is no point in proving your point to an antivirus software company, if a hidden icon is their detection criterion for riskware/unwanted program. They won't be changing their rules for us alone.

As far as I'm concerned, version 6.3.0.3 is good enough and supports Hiding the icon. Neither of good antivirus programs ever gave me a trouble about RMS. So yours and your company excuses are lame.

Thank you for your feedback.
Christopher Greer, User (Posts: 16)
Sep 19, 2015 2:27:54 pm EDT
Support level: Free or trial
I have to hand it to you Conrad.  I think you kept your cool in this thread pretty well.

I understand fully what it is like to have my software falsely detected as malware.  It is always an uphill battle.

I personally agree with Conrads decision to remove the feature of hiding the icon in the taskbar. It only makes since to have it shown in the taskbar.  We all know how easily remote software can be used in a malicious way.  We also know that there are many naive computer users in the world that could easily be tricked and never know someone had remote access to their computer just by the icon not being visible in the tray.  For the majority of Remote Utilities users I would think they would rather have the icon in the tray anyways. Especially if you are a tech support specialist.  I don't ever want my clients to feel that I may be untrustworthy. As a tech support specialist you have to be trustworthy or you risk losing clients.  As a tech... I have nothing to hide.  If I am supposed to have remote access to the computer why would I feel the need to hide it?  Whether the icon is hidden or not... what is going to stop an administrator from disabling or uninstalling the program anyways.  I would feel I would loose trust if I had a hidden icon and then that user just so happened to be browsing through the Add/Remove programs list and find something called "Remote Utilities" and they never knew it was there.  In their eyes it was hidden from them.  Pretty much any legitimate Remote access program shows the icon in the taskbar.  [censored] , [censored] , GoToMyPC ... the list goes on. Also... a client may like that assurance to know that they can see that their technicians remote access is running in the system tray. If they can see it... then they feel that they know they can get the support from the tech they will need. I don't know how many times I would get a call from one of my clients that would say... your [censored] icon has a red "X" on it. Should I do anything to make sure you can help me when I need it. Or they might call and ask... do you not have access anymore? I don't see [censored] on the computer. Most clients want to see the icon. They want to know you are supporting them. That is what they pay us for. Plus the icon is an easy way to know that the access is properly running. What if an antivirus program... or something malfunctioned and crashed Remote Utilities. If it's not visible in the tray... you know right away something is wrong.

So there are many reasons to have it in the tray.  Very few reasons to hide it. Most reasons to hide it is not for good reasons.  It makes since for Conrad to make the decision he made and it was great for him to keep a level head when he is being questioned about it in the way he was in this thread.

Remember... Conrad has spent a lot of time creating this program.  Many of us here have benefited from all of his hard work.  Even if you disagree with a decision he made.  You need to give him respect and maybe make your suggestion in a civilized way.  Making comments like you always go 10 steps back is pretty messed up.  Just my 2 cents.  Of course we all are entitled to our opinions.
Conrad Sallian, Support (Posts: 3061)
Sep 21, 2015 6:11:54 am EDT
Hello Christopher,

Thank you for the kind words. You are absolutely correct meaning that if the software is used legitimately, there is no reason for the admin to hide it.

Just wanted to say though that it's not me who created the program   I'm just a support guy who works in the same team with people much cleverer than him. But thank you anyway.
Christopher Greer, User (Posts: 16)
Sep 21, 2015 5:13:17 pm EDT
Support level: Free or trial
Either way Conrad.  You're doing great as an admin.  In so many forums I see admins with hot heads! LOL!  In this thread it would be easy for anyone to get a hot head... and you kept your cool.  8)
Conrad Sallian, Support (Posts: 3061)
Sep 21, 2015 6:54:28 pm EDT
We can only regret that this update alienated some customers, but we had to do what we've done. Only a few months ago before this update we had a dozen false positives from various a/v programs, whereas now there's almost nil.
Michael Taylor, User (Posts: 50)
Sep 23, 2015 3:53:33 pm EDT
Support level: Free or trial

Christopher Greer wrote:
I have to hand it to you Conrad.  I think you kept your cool in this thread pretty well.  



I understand fully what it is like to have my software falsely detected as malware.  It is always an uphill battle.



I personally agree with Conrads decision to remove the feature of hiding the icon in the taskbar. It only makes since to have it shown in the taskbar.  We all know how easily remote software can be used in a malicious way.  We also know that there are many naive computer users in the world that could easily be tricked and never know someone had remote access to their computer just by the icon not being visible in the tray.  For the majority of Remote Utilities users I would think they would rather have the icon in the tray anyways. Especially if you are a tech support specialist.  I don't ever want my clients to feel that I may be untrustworthy. As a tech support specialist you have to be trustworthy or you risk losing clients.  As a tech... I have nothing to hide.  If I am supposed to have remote access to the computer why would I feel the need to hide it?  Whether the icon is hidden or not... what is going to stop an administrator from disabling or uninstalling the program anyways.  I would feel I would loose trust if I had a hidden icon and then that user just so happened to be browsing through the Add/Remove programs list and find something called "Remote Utilities" and they never knew it was there.  In their eyes it was hidden from them.  Pretty much any legitimate Remote access program shows the icon in the taskbar.  [censored] , [censored] , GoToMyPC ... the list goes on. Also... a client may like that assurance to know that they can see that their technicians remote access is running in the system tray. If they can see it... then they feel that they know they can get the support from the tech they will need. I don't know how many times I would get a call from one of my clients that would say... your [censored] icon has a red "X" on it. Should I do anything to make sure you can help me when I need it. Or they might call and ask... do you not have access anymore? I don't see [censored] on the computer. Most clients want to see the icon. They want to know you are supporting them. That is what they pay us for. Plus the icon is an easy way to know that the access is properly running. What if an antivirus program... or something malfunctioned and crashed Remote Utilities. If it's not visible in the tray... you know right away something is wrong.



So there are many reasons to have it in the tray.  Very few reasons to hide it. Most reasons to hide it is not for good reasons.  It makes since for Conrad to make the decision he made and it was great for him to keep a level head when he is being questioned about it in the way he was in this thread.



Remember... Conrad has spent a lot of time creating this program.  Many of us here have benefited from all of his hard work.  Even if you disagree with a decision he made.  You need to give him respect and maybe make your suggestion in a civilized way.  Making comments like you always go 10 steps back is pretty messed up.  Just my 2 cents.  Of course we all are entitled to our opinions.  

My Comments are "messed up" you want to know what's messed up?

1) paying for 5 licenses then they decide to give it away for free.
2) version 5 worked perfectly, version 6 has too many issues to list and is unusable to me in its current state.
3) people commenting on posts without knowing all the facts.

I'm glad you like RUT 6 and I hope it continues to work for you. you're probably a very basic user.

just "MY" 2 cents.
Conrad Sallian, Support (Posts: 3061)
Sep 24, 2015 5:53:43 am EDT
Michael,

1) paying for 5 licenses then they decide to give it away for free.

This did not affect customers who purchased their licenses previously in any way. Even now everyone can still purchase 1-10 licenses although there is a free license for up to 10 remote pcs that has the same capabilities and functionality.

2) version 5 worked perfectly, version 6 has too many issues to list and is unusable to me in its current state.

Sorry, but version 5 had a lot of issues , it's simply that they did not manifest themselves in your specific use, but they were reported by other users. Just take a look at the "fixed" items in the release notes.

If there are any specific issues you have with version 6 we would be only happy to help.

Thank you.

* Website time zone: America/New_York (UTC -5)