Secure remote control using pcAnywhere

I'm aiming to use pcAnywhere or VNC to allow access to friends/families
computers to assist with "my computer's not working properly" telephone
calls.

I can do this with a modem easily enough, but as most are on broadband
TCP/IP would be preferred, if it could be secured.

Does anyone have any experience of this or have a recommended web site

Microbe

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Adrian Bigland wrote:
> I'm aiming to use pcAnywhere or VNC to allow access to friends/families
> computers to assist with "my computer's not working properly" telephone
> calls.
>
> I can do this with a modem easily enough, but as most are on broadband
> TCP/IP would be preferred, if it could be secured.
>
> Does anyone have any experience of this or have a recommended web site

I gave up on pcAnywhere at version 11 as it got bloated and unstable. Now I
get them to buy a license for RealVNC[1] Personal and use that, which has
support for AES encryption. Only allow their firewall to let through VNCs
from my IP address, use a complex and different password for each one and
use a different port number are all ways to help secure this type of remote
control. You can also set it to only be loaded when they need it.

You may also have the option of Microsoft's remote connection, depending on
what version of Windows they/you're using. VNC has an advantage over this
as they don't need to be logged off when you want to log on and you can
both watch the session. For file transfer I either use an internal Apache
server I switch on when wanted on my PC or Simple Socket File Transfer[2].

If their ISP does not provide a static IP address either have them initiate
the connection with VNC Viewer (see docs), use a "dynamic DNS" service or
if on a modem the connection's Status->Details page.

HTH

[1] http://www.realvnc.com/
[2] http://www.whitsoftdev.com/ssft/
- --
Adam Piggott, Proprietor, Proactive Services (Computing).
http://www.proactiveservices.co.uk/

Please replace dot invalid with dot uk to email me.
Apply personally for PGP public key.
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (MingW32)

iD8DBQFDclwo7uRVdtPsXDkRAuT/AJ9YJmPgbl3j6nJ0XRHtFNesx+gkkACcDj3p
Xg7VNt0h2mdrAqVOQYOYWow=
=o+G4
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

On 9 Nov 2005 19:35, "Adrian Bigland" wrote:

>I can do this with a modem easily enough, but as most are on broadband
>TCP/IP would be preferred, if it could be secured.

Depending on their OS, you might find www.logmein.com provides what you
need, at least for Windows XP / Windows 2000 their end (can be controlled
from Windows 98, but Win 98 cannot be controlled via this service). It'll
cope with dynamic IP and I've helped a friend on dial-up his end, ADSL my
end, so know that that combination works too.

Although I've used VNC it needs messing with routers etc to get it to work,
while logmein installed even for a person who normally had trouble finding the
shift key - she is just very scared of "breaking the PC" and tends to need a
lot of hand holding to do the simplest of things, so giving her the step by
step of 1) visit web site, 2) enter this mail address and password,
3) click on the 'add computer' option (and through installation) means
I now do not have to think twice so long as her PC goes online and
logmein can 'log in' to its HQ... Peter M.

--

UK ADSL <http://tinyurl.com/dghgq> - Happy to save cash with Plus.Net!

Unsuitable for heavy downloaders, but fine for video/audio streaming.

"Adrian Bigland" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm aiming to use pcAnywhere or VNC to allow access to friends/families
> computers to assist with "my computer's not working properly" telephone
> calls.
>
> I can do this with a modem easily enough, but as most are on broadband
> TCP/IP would be preferred, if it could be secured.
>
> Does anyone have any experience of this or have a recommended web site
>
> Microbe


>

Many thanks

Microbe
>