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vnc extension on linux


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#1 compis

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Posted 06 January 2023 - 12:30 AM

I have mx-linux and it has preinstalled on virtualbox 6.1.22 an extension called VNC which is described by Virtualbox as a experimental app, VNC is used for remote control. Has anyone used this extension? How is it used ?

 

 

 

 



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#2 cryptodan

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Posted 06 January 2023 - 12:39 PM

Ive used VNC before but never saw it offered as an extension for Virtual Box.


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#3 compis

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Posted 10 January 2023 - 09:51 PM

The issue is the preinstallation of the VNC extension in Virtualbox. I have used VNC for remote access of other workstations but do not understand the function inside a Virtualbox application.



#4 cryptodan

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Posted 10 January 2023 - 09:56 PM

So you can control it while it's minimized

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#5 compis

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Posted 10 January 2023 - 09:58 PM

Control what ? the virtualbox application?

that does not make sense. Describe an example where you would use the VNC extension.



#6 cryptodan

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Posted 10 January 2023 - 10:00 PM

The vnc extension likely adds the vbc server functionality to it so you can connect over port 5800/5900.

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#7 compis

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Posted 16 January 2023 - 09:29 PM

That does not explain the VNC extension function or usage. I don't know what the vbc server is but I can tell you the extension is experimental and Cryptodan as a person who has never had malware (from other post) you won't be able to achieve that with experimental remote control software.

 

 

Read 9.20. Other Extension Packs

https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch09.html#otherextpacks



#8 cryptodan

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Posted 16 January 2023 - 09:36 PM

Yes I've been malware free since 1993. Following common sense practices, not being overly paranoid, and just being smart.

And yes I've used vnc server and vnc viewer for controlling a desktop remotely. That's how I know port 5900 and 5800 are used for VNC.

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#9 compis

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Posted 22 January 2023 - 02:01 AM

That does not explain the VNC extension function or usage in virtualbox !



#10 cryptodan

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Posted 22 January 2023 - 02:23 PM

Yes it does you can run a VM from another machine via VNC or load up a VM setup to access another system on the network with an access control list abd software that only works from Linux and not windows.

Have you ever used a remote connection to administrate or use another machine?

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#11 compis

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Posted 01 February 2023 - 08:45 PM

That does not make any sense. You setup a Virtual machine and then remotely add or make modifications ?

 

More importantly it is an extension which is experimental and is only installed on the linux repo. Why?

 

If virtualbox is installed directly from Oracles site the experiment vnc extension is not present after install and the Oracle site states they do not install VNC experimental extension.



#12 cryptodan

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Posted 01 February 2023 - 09:45 PM

Then talk to the distro that packaged it. Maybe they had requests.

But I can tell you as a system administrator and cyber security professional I've ran vms minimized to perform system administration tasks and vulnerability scans from my main machine.

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#13 compis

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Posted 02 February 2023 - 12:18 AM

No Cyber security specialist or good administrator would ever use an experimental remote control software like VNC becuase it allows remote control to possible several virtual machine.

 

As for your question as to why not ask the package manager. I did ask Mx-linux and they said I should ask Debian. Debian stated they do not include Virtualbox in their current release which is true, you can examine There list of Debian packages. That means mx-linux installed Virtualbox with that experiemental VNC package.

 

I directly download Virtualbox from Oracle and the VNC experimental package is not installed.



#14 cryptodan

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Posted 06 February 2023 - 02:05 PM

VNC isn't experimental it's been out there since like 2001 when there was RealVNC, TightVNC, and many others. I've used it numerous times in my career path as a cybersecurity expert and systems administrator for a couple top 500 businesses.

It's free to use and if your firewall blocks ports 5800 and 5900 you have nothing to worry about.


https://mxrepo.com/MX21packages.html

firefox - 109.0.1~mozillabinaries-1mx21+1
Version: 109.0.1~mozillabinaries-1mx21+1

Section: web

Architecture: 32bit and 64bit

Description:
The Mozilla Firefox Web Browser. It is a powerful, extensible web browser
with support for modern web application technologies.
This package consists of the Mozilla-provided static binaries and support
files bundled into a debianized package.
Homepage: http://mozilla.org

Maintainer: Mike Purtell

Download for 32 bit here: firefox_109.0.1~mozillabinaries-1mx21+1_i386.deb

Download for 64 bit here: firefox_109.0.1~mozillabinaries-1mx21+1_amd64.deb


Is the maintainer for the mx linux packages.

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#15 compis

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Posted 08 February 2023 - 07:08 PM

You clearly did not read what I posted or you do not know what a Virtualbox extnsion is.

 

The VNC extension in Virtualbox is experimental as state by virtualbox.

 

Read 9.20. Other Extension Packs

https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch09.html#otherextpacks






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