FORUM Issue >>
I wrote this a while ago, and of course it had already logged me out before I resumed editing. So, I finished, and hit PREVIEW. After that, I thought I'd see the option to SEND/POST, but I didn't. I also could find no way to get back to the edit screen. After RE-logging in, I still couldn't even find my draft or the preview. Luckily, I clipped it before even trying the preview.
Sorry it is so long -- and, NO reply [to me anyway] is required, so only reply to help others posting here:
Since I spent an hour trying to "find" the Amazon logout last night on a "USER's" PC, I want to weigh in on the banner. (FYI, I am trying to USE the "USER" and "ADMIN [console?]" which always tells me WHICH PC and which user, or installation we are referring to. I can't ever get the terms "server/client/host/viewer" straight in my head no matter what I do.) So, when AS ADMIN, I'm logged into a USER'S PC, here's one banner implementation:
For the ADMIN --
Display the banner the way it is, (fairly opaque), but provide a "DISMISS for 5 minutes." It could even prevent clicking under the banner, since I can remove it. This would ensure the ADMIN is reminded every five minutes, which is BETTER than just showing a semi-transparent banner, but still makes it 100% FULLY usable. Fr om your perspective, it also makes it even more obvious that they could/should pay.
Clipboards are a HORRIBLE security problem, since often, ADMINS are most always using the USER's PW and login credentials, which sometimes I DO need them, but need to be able to toggle that on or off. Likewise, us ADMINS don't want to make a MISTAKE and send MY credentials to the USER's PC and LEAVE it there! Without it being both VERY obvious, and easy to change back and forth, the user HAS to assume (likely correctly), that a clipboard manager would hold a copy of every PW and username used for that session. Also, the ADMIN must remember or know what is/was in his Windows clipboard or APP, (sometimes it is impossible to see or know).
So, SOMEWHERE, you must CLEARLY show the STATE of clipboard transfers, as well as the ability with one click, to CHANGE IT on the fly without going into any menus.
For the USER --
Display the LIKELY ID NAME of the ADMIN, since this is extremely important for security reasons. -- Another reason is, if tech support folks are also on the phone working on an issue, the USER needs to be confident who is connected, and HOW LONG connected.
The other thing the user must be informed about, if for no other reason for them to be aware of it, that the ADMIN will likely have a copy of ANYTHING that is copied. So, SHOW the STATE of the CLIPBOARD.
Then, give the user some way to EASILY and OBVIOUSLY dismiss the message, at least for some named time -- (at least 10 minutes). If you provide that, then the banner could be showing in the middle of the screen, like an ACCEPT banner you must answer. (Also show un-licensed.) Using THIS method should be standard for commercial use as well I think, and obscure messages aren't useful, and confuse the user. A tech call often has frazzled, sometimes irate USERS on the phone and on their PCs. Even trying to understand wh ere ANY banner is, or even finding the cursor that is shaking at them, is sometimes a one minute job, so make the banner BIG and DISMISSABLE with all installations, (free or paid).
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Thanks for a great product that is reasonably easy to use. Those of us that help our users, often family, requires a fair amount of trust to be able to log into their PC's at any time. One option that might help in some cases, is to require the user to "ACCEPT", before any session is initiated, when installed. An added hurdle for ADMINs, but for a USER, any way you cut it, what we do IS an intrusion on their privacy, and can't be avoided. However, they should be able to "close and lock the door" to prevent intrusions at least some of the time. Clipboards for me though are likely the largest security problem of all, for any RDP program or service. When I have my car replaced, they "have my keys", but hard enough to duplicate, that it seldom happens. Even if they do, they still need physical access to the car. Passwords almost always are going to be inadvertently copied, and stored by the ADMIN, "trying to help". And once the credentials are copied and available, the user or his PC is not needed. And so now, if the ADMIN'S PC is hacked, the USER's credentials are also at risk, even if the reputable admin is very proficient and studious.