Remote access to windows PC

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Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 9:38 pm

Does anyone know of a good, secure and free program that allows remote access from one machine to another.

Cheers

Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 9:46 pm

How about LogMeIn?

Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 10:03 pm

cheers for that, are there any others that are reliable.

Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 10:06 pm

What OS are they using? You may be able to use Windows Remote Desktop.

LINK

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

http://www.tightvnc.com/

Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 10:38 pm

www.logmein.com like Oxygen suggested. 256 bit encryption, works over port 443 (https) .. free. Great tool.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Dionysius wrote:

secure

Sorry, I missed that key word in your question.

From TightVNC wrote:

How secure is TightVNC?

Although TightVNC encrypts VNC passwords sent over the net, the rest of the traffic is sent as is, unencrypted (for password encryption, VNC uses a DES-encrypted challenge-response scheme, where the password is limited by 8 characters, and the effective DES key length is 56 bits). So using TightVNC over the Internet can be a security risk. To solve this problem, we plan to work on built-in encryption in future versions of TightVNC.

In the mean time, if you need real security, we recommend installing OpenSSH, and using SSH tunneling for all TightVNC connections from untrusted networks.

So I suppose it would be fine to use over a trusted LAN but probably not so much over the intertubes. I have used Windows Remote Desktop on my LAN that is behind my NAT router with success, I suppose TightVNC would work equally as well for that application.

http://www.logmein.com looks like a better solution when security is taken into account.

Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 3:40 am

The free solutions lack top drawer support..

Google Cisco remote access.. or gotomypc.com

(The link is to long for most 640x480 monitors) Shocked

Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 3:11 am

I use tightVNC. Only over my local internal LAN.

My company uses RealVNC. RealVNC does encrypt in the personal and enterprise versions. Probably costs where the GPL version is free but it seems if you really think you need to encrypt to be sure then you shouldn't have a problem with paying for the software.

Here is something you may want to read
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_remote_desktop_software

Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 7:12 pm

Depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Let me know a few more details and I'll see what I can come up with. A big question I have concerns logging into an unattended desktop or one in which you are collaborating.

I use VNC for clients but first we log in through a VPN. There are a lot of SOHO VPN routers out there you might want to try.

Another option is an addon I just saw for skype. Since all of Skype's traffic is already encrypted it would, should be, be secure.

I actually have it bookmarked on another laptop but I think It's over at http://www.yugma.com/share_skype.php

EDIT:
I found this one too, https://extras.skype.com/1204/view

Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 7:14 pm

You can also tunnel VNC through SSH, but I guess that may not be a way you'd want to go.

Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 7:32 pm

I have two computers. A desktop and a lap top. I'm using the lap top for digital photography, to unload the camera as soon as possible so that I'm not tied down to a desktop. I'd like to be able to log into desktop to fart around and transfer files off the lap top onto the desktop.

I should point out, I'm one of the worst computer dick heads you are likely to meet. I'm IT supports worse nightmare.

Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 7:44 pm

If all you want to do is transfer files, there's much easier ways than using remote access. What about using a memory drive to transfer them? Or simply allowing file sharing across the network. If you have BT as your ISP you can even plug in an external hard drive to your home hub - even a memory drive and allow both computers access to it. All it takes is for you to rename the network "BT" on both computers and it's practically done.

Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 7:49 pm

Maybe all you need is a shared folder. The folder would be on the desktop's hard drive. Its pretty easy to set up with Windows and I have it running for two home desktops, a laptop and my work issued tablet computer. I use USB portable hard drives for photos, videos, movies and music. If you go that way, make sure that the case has a cooling fan.

Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 7:56 pm

If it's enough to copy files while both computers are at home and assuming both run Windows you could simply use shares. That way you can easily transfer files from one computer to another.

Master Baiter Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 188

I use logmein. So easy to set up that I was able to walk my mom through it. Had it up and running on her side in under 5 minutes.

Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 11:46 pm

For file transfer in logmein you'd need a paid subscription though, the free version only let's you take over a PC. I didn't like the pricing of the the file transfer feature .. But as a remote desktop solution over internet it's great.

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 2:57 am

Dionysius wrote:

I'm using the lap top for digital photography, to unload the camera as soon as possible so that I'm not tied down to a desktop. I'd like to be able to log into desktop to fart around and transfer files off the lap top onto the desktop.

Ok Sounds pretty simple if this is all you want to do.

First off, do you have an internet router at home that you connect to the internet with? Like a Linksys or similar. If so then you have a network and we will be able to share out the files easily.

If not, or not yet, I'd recommend something like this:

http://reviews.cnet.com/networking-and-wi-fi/linksys-wrt350n-wireless-router/4505-3243_7-32018493.html

Doesn't have to be that model but something similar. This way you could start out with a shared network storage folder on a USB key. Then if you were so inclined you could read chapter two and learn how to share it over the internet and set up FTP and so on. I used an older version of one of these and that are really simple to use. You can plug in a USB key or a USB hard drive if you wanted a few hundred gigs of storage.

If you already have a router at home then here are two good articles on simple file sharing in Windows XP.

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/filesharing.htm

http://www.home-network-help.com/file-sharing.html

Let me know when you need some other help. The first time you go through this it can be kind of tricky. After that it's a snap and sharing, files, printers and drives will be something you will use every day!

Edited for Better grammer . . . . . . I hope

Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 3:49 am

Cheers

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