Secure and remote operation of a remote computer from a local computer over a network includes authenticating a remote computer for connection to a computer over the network and/or a local computer for connection to a remote computer over the network; establishing a secure connection therebetween; and integrating a desktop of a remote computer on a display of a local computer. Functions that are performed may include one or more of: integrating a file structure of accessible files accessed at the second or first computer, into a file structure contained at the first or second computer, respectively; at least one of integrating a desktop of the second computer on a display of the first computer and integrating a desktop of the first computer on a display of the second computer; and directly operating the second computer from the first computer or the first computer from the second computer.