Team Viewer Is Not For Gamers

TeamViewer (TV) is a free remote access and remote desktop sharing tool designed for use over the internet. This handy little application has been adopted by many gamers and a means to verify if other players suspected of hacking have any evidence of it on thier computer.

How it most often works is someone accuses you of using a hack while playing an online game, most often an FPS (First Person Shooter), then someone says "If you don't hack then let me TeamView you". Then the player who was accused of "hacking", obtains and runs a stand alone executable file that does not require an installation of the TeamViewer application, and then gives access to the thier computer, by means of this stand alone executable and a randomly generated password, to the one accusing them of cheating or someone from the gaming community they belong to. This stranger, that you just gave remote access to your computer to, then searches your system for any trace of known hacks for whatever game is in question. If they find nothing, you are considered "Clean", if they do find something, your labeled a "hacker".

The Problem...

First off, let me start by saying, NEVER GIVE ANYONE, OTHER THAN A TRUSTED IT PROFESSIONAL OR OTHER 100% COMPLETELY TRUSTED PERSON, ACCESS TO YOUR COMPUTER ... EVER! I don't care how secure the software being used for this access is, any and all remote sessions can be abused by those who know how to do it, and this gives a stranger access to search the contents of your computer.

So while they look for traces of "hacks" on your system, they can also look for any personal information such as stored passwords, opening you up to exploitation. Or any other private information for that matter. So it's very easy to see how the person viewing your system can abuse it, even if the session is "read" only. You do not have to make changes to someones system to exploit them. However it should be noted that any and all sessions are exploitable for other reasons that I am not going to go into detail about. Doing so would only give those with such ideas a means to learn how to do it.

The TeamViewer software was never intended to be used in this manner, it was designed for use by those with a basic understanding of remote system management, individuals, and business persons to gain access to thier own systems or those of clients without having to actually be there, such as for use to give remote business presentations. It was NOT intended or designed for use by gamers who think they know what they are doing and can be trusted to snoop around your PC. It is in no way an anti-hacking tool or a way to confirm or deny if someone hacks.

Even though I can understand the concept behind using an application like Team Viewer for this purpose, and I am sure the original intentions are noble, they are badly flawed.

1. The player being "viewed" can easily store the hacks on a removable drive thus removing all traces of them is as easy as pulling a flash drive.
2. Most hacks do not need to be "installed" and thus traces can be removed in a matter of seconds by anyone who truly wants, and knows how to, keep thier cheating a secret. The hacks that do require "other" tools or themselves installed can be done so on removable media and registry entries easily hidden or removed instantly or even automatically.
   
3. You are relying on the word of a complete stranger to tell the truth about what they find on your system.
   
4. Files can very easily be hidden from the TeamViewer software without the person searching through your system ever knowing it.
   
5. A vast majority of gamers who live and breath by this software and take it as gospel truly have no concept of how easy it is to manipulate, or in some cases, even how to use the software correctly. Let alone the credentials to be given remote access to your computer for no good reason other than to clear you of cheating when they have no authority what so ever to make that judgment.
   
6. The aforementioned security issues.

So in a nut shell, even though the intentions are good, TeamViewer was never intended to be used for this purpose and should not be. Giving even limited controlled access to your computer to a perfect stranger is probably one of the dumbest things you can do.

There is not a single game publisher out there that uses Team Viewer as a means to verify the use of hacks by a player in thier game. Nor do any of them condone its use for the obvious security risks involved that most users will deny or are completely unaware of. Most often the people who wish you to install this software and give them access to your system to "prove you don't hack" are individual gamers or privately operated online communities, such as LGC (Legit Gaming Community). They are not licensed or endorsed by the games publishers and thus you should have no fear in rejecting someones request to be Team Viewed.

Although these communities mean well and have good intentions at thier core, they have absolutely no control over your game account, nor any authority or ability what so ever to take negative action against you. They are also not IT Professionals and should never be allowed access to your computer for any reason.

So in closing, let me just say this one last time. NEVER GIVE ANYONE, OTHER THAN A TRUSTED IT PROFESSIONAL OR OTHER 100% COMPLETELY TRUSTED PERSON, ACCESS TO YOUR COMPUTER ... EVER! You are in no way obligated to use this software to play any game and if you run across a private server that wants you to use it, your better off moving on. If you know you don't hack, then you have absolutely no worries at all and should not concern yourself with the opinions of others. If you do hack, then your pretty much a pathetic idiot and a waste of human flesh. Have a wonderful day! :)