SimplyRemote: Secure, Portable RDP Connection Manager

Download link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1QjP5LZXv-bvESKI74EEa2wGW9JRZgwjG&usp=drive_fs

SimplyRemote is a modern, lightweight, and highly secure desktop application built for network administrators, developers, and power users who need to organize and launch multiple Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connections. Written in Electron and JavaScript, it is a fully portable utility that prioritizes visual elegance, ease of use, and local-first data protection.

Key Features

• Multi-Vault Profile Management: Create independent accounts (e.g., Work, Personal, Client A), each secured by a unique Master Password and dedicated local encryption.
• Warning-Free RDP Launching: Bypasses the native Windows “Caution: Unknown publisher” prompt. SimplyRemote temporarily updates the Windows User RDP profile (Documents\Default.rdp), launches the connection via mstsc.exe, and cleans up/restores the original profile 3 seconds later.
• Ephemeral Credential Injection: Credentials (usernames and passwords) are registered in the Windows Credential Manager (cmdkey) only at the exact moment of connection and are completely wiped 10 seconds later, minimizing the memory/system footprint of sensitive logins.
• Drag-and-Drop .rdp Imports: Easily migration by dragging existing .rdp files directly onto the connection grid to parse and import their settings.
• Granular Hardware & Connection Options: Toggle fullscreen or custom resolutions, smart sizing, multiple monitor support, audio redirection, microphone/printer/disk drive passthrough, keyboard hooks, font smoothing, and visual performance tweaks (wallpaper/themes).
• Emergency Account Wiping: Safely wipe all connection data, credentials, and settings for any account instantly with the “Burn-on-Demand” account removal feature.

Security Architecture

SimplyRemote operates on a zero-trust, local-first security model. Your data never leaves your machine.

1. Military-Grade Local Encryption

All stored connections and reusable credentials are encrypted on your local drive using AES-256-GCM (Advanced Encryption Standard with Galois/Counter Mode). AES-256-GCM provides both high-grade confidentiality and built-in cryptographic integrity checks to prevent file tampering.

2. PBKDF2 Key Derivation

The encryption keys are derived from your Master Password using PBKDF2 (Password-Based Key Derivation Function 2) with 100,000 iterations of SHA-256 and a cryptographically secure random salt. This structure is highly resistant to offline GPU brute-force or dictionary attacks.

3. Time-Based One-Time Password (TOTP) 2FA

To unlock any vault, you must present a valid 6-digit TOTP code from an authenticator app (such as Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, or Authy) alongside your Master Password. This enforces 2-factor authentication entirely locally without requiring internet connectivity.

4. Secure Session Management

If enabled, SimplyRemote uses Electron’s native safeStorage API—which binds encryption keys to the current operating system user credentials—to encrypt session tokens. This ensures that even if session files are copied to another machine, they cannot be decrypted.

How to Use SimplyRemote

Step 1: Initial Vault Setup

1. Open the application.
2. Under Setup SimplyRemote, select a friendly account name (e.g., Main Vault) and choose a strong Master Password.
3. Click Generate Authenticator Key to produce a QR code and text secret.
4. Scan the QR code with your mobile authenticator app.
5. Enter the current 6-digit verification code, choose your sign-in retention period, and click Complete Setup.

Step 2: Manage Reusable Credentials

1. Navigate to the Saved Credentials tab in the sidebar.
2. Click Add Credential.
3. Provide a friendly name (e.g., Domain Admin), enter the username, and the password.
4. Click Save Credential. These logins are encrypted and can be linked to any connection setup.

Step 3: Add and Import Remote Connections

• Manual Setup: Under the Connections tab, click Add Setup. Fill out the hostname, select a saved credential, and customize display, audio, hardware, and performance parameters.
• Import Existing Profiles: Drag any .rdp configuration file from your computer and drop it directly onto the grid. SimplyRemote parses the configuration properties and adds the connection setup instantly.

Step 4: Connecting

Simply locate your target connection card and click the Connect button. SimplyRemote securely registers the credentials temporarily, launches the RDP connection, and automatically clears the system cache shortly after.

About the Author

SimplyRemote was created by Bullish Media Pros, LLC. Built with the needs of IT professionals and developers in mind, SimplyRemote was born out of a desire for a clean, premium, and lightning-fast RDP connection manager that puts data privacy and warning-free workflow convenience above all else.