3am Labs LogMeln Hamachi review

The internet might be brilliant for letting a large number of people communicate with one another, but if you want some privacy to play games and share files with your friends, it's a nightmare to set up.

LogMeIn's Hamachi aims to change that by letting you build a secure virtual LAN over the internet.

Hamachi works by creating a second, virtual network card on your computer that connects to your private Hamachi networks. Creating a network is as simple as naming it and assigning a password. Simply email these details to whoever you want to join your network. Initially, the connection is handled through LogMeIn's servers, but the network soon moves to a peer-to-peer connection.

While the application setup is straightforward, you still need to know a bit about Windows networking, file sharing and firewall settings before you can confidently connect to or establish a Hamachi network without ruining your existing network settings. A comprehensive online help forum guides you through Windows network settings, common applications and firewall configuration but, just like a real network, don't be surprised if it takes a bit of trial and error to get it right.

The crux of Hamachi is what it lets other applications achieve. As your computer behaves as though it's on a local network, you can print, play games, share files and run network applications as though you are physically connected. It also provides a secure tunnel for remote access and remote-assistance software. One unexpected advantage is that iTunes treats Hamachi as a normal network, so you can play music from your friends' computers.

There are no adverts, banners or spyware and the free client is valid for life. The premium version, which costs from ?.60 per month, lets you build virtual networks of more than 16 clients and gives you more versatile control of the networks you create. This is a useful, no-nonsense application for network creation, but it's not for the complete novice.