GoToAssist was originally developed by Expertcity, which was founded in
Santa Barbara, California in 1997. GoToAssist Remote Support enables users to access and control remote computers and other Internet-connected devices in order to provide
technical support. The solution allows a desktop view of a
host computer to be manipulated from an IT computer. The two machines are connected through a
TCP/IP network. One of Expertcity's innovations was to employ the Internet for connectivity, protecting transmissions with high-security
encryption and multiple passwords. By combining a web-based
software service with software installed on the host computer, transmissions could be passed through highly restrictive
firewalls. In December 2003, Citrix Systems of
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, acquired the GoToAssist service and its developer, Expertcity, for $225 million, half cash and half stock. In 2017, LogMeIn, a SaaS company in Boston, completed the acquisition (through merger) with Citrix's GetGo family of products including GoToAssist. GoToAssist joined former competitor LogMeIn Rescue to create the Rescue family of support products. ==Editions==