Use CrossLoop to share your desktop

(Credit: CNET Networks)

CrossLoop (download it from CNET Download.com) provides a quick, easy, and completely free way to give a colleague, a friend, or a relative access to your computer. After you download and install the tiny client, your PC will be assigned a 12-digit access code each time you start the program. You can then give that number to another user to virtually share your desktop. Once connected, that user will have full access to your machine.

The odd nature of sharing a desktop cursor and the inability to add multiple users makes CrossLoop illogical for proper business presentations. However, the complete system access and 128-bit encrypted connection combine to create a great solution for low-budget, long-distance tech support.

Guests can open, edit, and save files, and use e-mail, IM, or any other program on your computer, as if they were sitting in front of the machine. No router configuration is required--a big plus. The key purpose here is collaboration; CrossLoop doesn't work without explicit permission from the host.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Since simplicity is a key attraction of CrossLoop, it lacks more advanced features. Currently, it doesn't support any file transfers, nor can more than two users share one desktop. Also, once the host machine starts a sharing session, the connection must be made in two minutes or it times out. While the interface and the features are simple, CrossLoop offers a secure and fast method for two users to collaborate on one PC.