SSL Explorer 0.2.13 is a Java-based Open Source multiplatform application that lets you access resources behind an Intranet firewall through a secure web browser SSL (https) connection. The difference between using this product and a VPN is that no client side software or configuration other than a web browser is needed. I tested it on an old (Pentium III) PC running Windows Server 2003 behind a firewall that blocks the TCP ports for VNC and Windows Networking among other things. I should add that I control this test firewall so I now which ports are available. Even 443 (https) is blocked. However, I redirected a non-standard port to 443 inside of the firewall. This let me use the web browsers SSL connection to see a Samba share on a Linux box as well as a shared folder I set up on Windows server. I was also able to use VNC and SSH from this single SSL connection.

This is well worth checking out if you have a small LAN behind a firewall that you'd like to securely access from the outside. Don't forget to download and install the latest Java JRE if you don't have it already installed on your target platform.