VPN with Hamachi

Have you ever been out with your laptop or friends house and realized you needed a file on your work of home computer? Log Me In’s Hamachi allows you to create your own VPN (virtual private network) with secure encryption without having to configure your router to port forward, and you don't have to keep up with your ISP's ever changing IP address. You can access any computer on the network you create regardless of its location! For most cases, this is too much work! This solution is not practical to install on every computer you run across because of obvious security issues and you would need to have the ability to install programs; but, perhaps the most convenient solution for Hamachi is to put it on your laptop to have access to your files on your desktop at home. This tutorial will beginner users to install and configure Hamachi.

1. Download and Install Hamachi - Go to logmein.com, download, and install Hamachi.

2. Turn on Hamachi - After installed, Hamachi will launch automatically and a window pops up, read this because there is important information. Follow its instructions and create a name for your computer. You will also see a series of numbers on the top of Hamachi, this is your Hamachi IP address. The power button to toggle Hamachi on or off is on the lower left hand corner. Make sure to allow Hamachi to go through your firewall and if not, add Hamachi to your exceptions list.

3. Create your Hamachi Network - You need to create a Hamachi network so any computers you want to have access can. In the lower right hand corner of Hamachi you click the button second to the end and click “create a new network.” Think of a name for the network and create a password. It is very important that this password be very secure up to 64 characters or random numbers and letters. The more random it is the more secure it is. To get help with a good secure password, go to grc.com.

4. Join your Hamachi Network - Repeat step 1 & 2 and install Hamachi on another computer but instead of creating a network, you join the network you created. Again, click the second to the right lower button and click, “join an existing network” and enter you network name and password you created. Repeat this step on as many computers as you to be in your private network. You will not see the names of the computers you created under your network in Hamachi.

5. Access your files on your network - You may now access files on any computer on your network by right clicking the corresponding computer and clicking “Browse.” You can also chat with the other user on the computer or send them a message by clicking “chat” after right clicking the computer.

6. Extra Settings - You may want to click the “preferences” which can be clicked by clicking the button on the lower right corner of Hamachi. Poke around because you can set Hamachi to start when Windows launches, set a master password, change messaging preferences, and showing that computer’s presence on the network when not used.