Remobo - Details / FAQ

FAQ & Technical Details

General

Q: What is Remobo?

Remobo is a free program that helps connect you and your friends computers together over Internet. The technology used in Remobo is extremely advanced - but super simple to use. Remote allows you to instantly create your own private network over Internet in no time; it's so easy that even your Grand-Mom, or at least your Mom, can link her computer with yours.

Q: How does it work?

Every registered Remobo User have their own "Instant Private Network" (IPN). For example, when a Remobo User Alice logs in from any computer that have the Remobo program installed, that computer becomes a member in Alice's IPN. Alice can log in from multiple computers at the same time, and all logged-in computers are members of Alice's IPN, which means all Alice's computers are connected to each other as if all these computers are on the same Local Area Network (LAN).

A computer is member of Remobo User's IPN only for the duration of their Remobo login session. For example, when Alice logs off Remobo from any of her computers, that logge-off computer is taken off from Alice's IPN network. And no data about Alice is left behind on that logged-off computer.

A Remobo User can also share their IPN with their friends. For example, when a Remobo User Alice invites her friend Bob (which must also be a Remobo User) as a "Buddy" in Alice's Remobo Network, all computers that Alice & Bob are currently logged-in become members of the IPN, which means all Alice's and Bob's computers are connected to each other, as if all these computers are on the same LAN.

The "Buddies" of a Remobo User does NOT see each other through this specific Remobo User. For example, if Alice have both Bob and Carl as her Remobo Buddies, then all Alice's and Bob's computers are connected to each other, and all Alice's and Carl's computers are connected to each other, but NONE of Bob's computers is connected to ANY of Carl's computers, unless they are Remobo Buddies of each other, too.

Q: What does it cost?

During the beta period, Remobo is free and helps us to refine and improve our product. Eventually, we'll have paid Premium Service for advanced Remobo Users, but the Basic Service will always be free to every Remobo User. More information will be provided once our beta program is complete.

Q: Why is Remobo better than Citrix's GoToMyPC?

Because Remobo allows you to instantly create your own private "Network" from any computers that you & your buddies log in, and it allows you to run any standalone or networking application among your computers in the "Network"; whereas all GoToMyPc can do is to control a "Single" computer remotely. And best of all, Remob is free, while GoToMyPC is NOT.

Q: Why is Remobo better than AIM, Yahoo!IM, MSN, and other chat programs?

Because all network traffic in Remobo, including the chat messages, are end-to-end encrypted with 256-bit AES algorithm, and only the chart participants have the keys to decrypt the message. Even we at Remobo.com are not able to decrypt any of the Remobo Users' traffic, since each Remobo User hold their own private keys that's not shared with any one, NOT even us as service provider. So you can be rest assured that no one in the world would be able to decrypt your conversation. Most chat program on Internet today are NOT encrypted; and even if they do, the chat service providers are capable of decrypting the chat message, if they want to.

Q: Why is Remobo better than XYZ's File Sharing programs?

Again, because all network traffic in Remobo are end-to-end encrypted with 256-bit AES algorithm, and only the chart participants have the keys to decrypt the message. Plus, Remobo's file transfer is fast & safe, because all computers in a Remobo User's Instant Private Network (IPN) have direct network connections to each other; messages are relayed via Servers from Remobo.com only if direct connection cannot be established. And, whether direct connected or relayed, all messages are always end-to-end encrypted that can only be decrypted by both end, not any of the intermediaries.

Q: Why is Remobo better than Cisco's VPN product?

Because Remobo does NOT require any configuration on any of your existing networking devices, and you do not need to add any new hardware devices into your network to run Remobo. This means, you can create your own virtual private network instantly over Internet WITHOUT the money or expertise required to build/buy any of the VPN product/service offered by current VPN vendors.

Connectivity

Q: Do I have to uninstall the old version before installing a new one?

NO, except if you want to install the new Remobo program in a different folder. Unless otherwise noted, Remobo's options and settings are retained from the previous installation.

Q: I have installed Remobo on my PC, registered a new Remobo UserID, and login ok in Remobo; now what?

Install Remobo on another of your PCs, and run the Remobo program on both PCs using your registered Remobo UserID, then you'll be able to send files or browse shared folders between your two PCs; And it doesn't matter whether these two Remobo PCs are located in the same Home network or across Internet in different Continents, they'll always stay connected, as if they were sitting next to each other on the same Local Area Network.

You can also connect your friend's PC with yours, by adding your friends as Buddies in Remobo; All you need to do is to click on the "menu" button at the bottom of Remobo window, then choose "Add a Buddy" menu item and type in your friend's Remob ID on the screen. When you hit "OK", a Buddy-Invitation is sent to your friend's Remobo program. Next time when your friend runs Remobo, or if they're currently logged in on Remobo, they will get a notification of your-Buddy Invitation. Once they accept your Invitation, their PCs will be connected to yours, as if your friend is sitting next to you on the same Local Area Network.

Q: Do I need to configure my firewall/router before running Remobo?

No, not at all. Remobo is designed with "zero-configuration" in mind, so that you don't have to change any of your existing network setting and still be able to connect among all your PCs and your friends.

Most networking utilities requires you to configure NAT to do port forwarding and open up firewall on a specific port for inbound traffic of your Home/Office network, this is not only cumbersome but also a security compromise; malicious hackers on the Internet would then be able to exploit this specific open port and try to get into your Home/Office network. With Remobo, you do NOT have to configure or open any specific port on your NAT/firewall device, hence make it impossible for malicious hacker to find any port for brute-force attack etc.

The only situation you'll need to configure your network is when your firewall blocks all *outbound* UDP traffic. Current Remobo versions only work with UDP traffic; we'll have a TCP version coming soon.

Q: How do I receive a file?

When your Buddy tries to transfer a file to you, a window will pop up in your computer that allows you to choose a location to save the file. After the transfer is completed, you can open the file.

Q: Why is my File Transfer slow?

There are serveral possible reasons:

* If you and your Buddy have relayed connection, that Relayed transfers usually have a slower speed than direct connections.
* The speed can also be dependent on the bandwidth available (up/down) to the sender/recipient of the file.
* If either party is using other applications which take up bandwidth (eg, web browser, email, Remote Desktip, etc), this will also slow the transfer.
* Internet congestion can also cause decrease of file transfer speed.
* Since Remobo is built with end-to-end encryption, all Remobo messages, including File Transfer, are encrypted on one side and decrypted on the other side; the strong encryption/decription algorithm can take up a lot of your CPU time, especially if your computer is not within 3-5 years old.

Security

Q: Is Remobo secure?

Yes, all network traffic in Remobo are end-to-end encrypted with 256-bit AES algorithm, and only the chart participants have the keys to decrypt the message. Even we at Remobo.com are not able to decrypt any of the Remobo Users' traffic, since each Remobo User hold their own private keys that's not shared with any one else.

Q: What does it mean to "Add a Buddy"? Does Buddy get to access all my files right after they're accepted?

In Remobo, while you and your Buddy are logged in at the same time, all the currently logged-in computers are connected to each other, as if these computers are in the same Local Area Network. It's just like your friends bring their computers physically to your house and plug them into your home network; they can access your folders/files if and only if you open it up for share.

Q: What control do I have over my Buddies?

If you're really paranoid, you can apply the same access control policy as you would have over other computers & users sitting on the same Local Area Network (ALN) as yours. For example, you can turn on Windows Personal Firewall for the Remobo Virtual Interface, and create firewall rules based on the Virtual IP (7.x.x.x) assiged for each computer in your IPN (Instant Private Network). Since Remobo enables remote computers across Internet to connect to each others as if they're sitting in the same LAN, you can control access from/to these Remobo computers in the same way as other computers in your LAN.

Q: Will my other "Non-Remobo" PC in my Home Network be exposed to my Remobo Buddies through my Remobo PC as well?

No, unless you explicitly configure your Remobo PC as the Gateway between your Home Network and your Remobo Network.

Misc

Q: Where can I report bugs?

Please post it on the "Bug Reports" Forum in the Community link, or email to "support (at) remobo (dot) com" ; we love squashing bugs and really appreciate your help to make Remobo a better tools for everyone in the community.

Instantly Create a Private Network!

between computers, coworkers or friends...