Windows remote control of PC

[Crackle]

Unless you register with a DNS provider you would have to get the user to provide their WAN IP

Yes, I hadn't even thought to static IP. I very much doubt they would have one, which would require more conjuring.

 

[DaveReading]

Use VNC and configure your router to allow it to your PC, then start your viewer in "listen" mode and get the supported user to connect to you - they shouldn't need to change their router to do that. No-one should trust teamviewer or any other solution that goes through a third-party.

+1.

I wouldn't touch Teamview, or any other solution that involves an untrusted third party, with a bargepole.

 

[Berk on a Bike]

Team viewer. Team viewer. Team viewer. Team viewer. Team viewer. Team viewer. Team viewer. Team viewer. Team viewer. Team viewer. Team viewer. Team viewer. Team viewer. Team viewer.

 

[Crackle]

opinion is divided.

So no one has tried Windows remote pc thingy @SatNavSaysStraightOn has I think.

 

[drummerbod]

Opinion isn't divided as such. I use VNC all the time and prefer it but I am a techie and IT is my job. There are many solutions that will work - it's just apps like Teamviewer make it simpler.

MS Windows Remote Assistance is an option - still not quite as easy as TV but hey.

 

[Sea of vapours]

I'm an enterprise architect, which is shorthand for saying that I considered, and tried, a number of options which involve no third party because, as several people have said, there is the issue of trust (as distinct from technical security). Many options can work (as people have said above), but it comes down to the degree of comfort the person you're helping has and, most particularly, their threat model, which in turn depends to a fair degree on just what sort of thing (risks) they do on their machine. I settled eventually - albeit uncomfortably - on Teamviewer (and a similar service which no longer exists) since my 82 year old mother really cannot intervene to help me help her and because I've limited her risk somewhat via advising her what and what not to do. It's not perfect, but if the person you're helping /cannot/ help you to help,then the options are rather restricted.

If you can set up really secure remote control requiring people to intervene to allow access, open ports, etc., then fine, but this sort of thing is way beyond most non-IT people and you'll spend more time on the communication method than you would have done going round to fix problem X in person. From what you've said, it sounds like Teamviewer (or similar), or carry on doing the home visits!

 

[Crackle]

Yes, I've been reading some forums about teamviewer security. I probably wouldn't deploy it in a bank (or vnc) but I reckon it's ok for someone who shops on Farmfoods. It might be what I need. I'll mull on it a bit.

 

[raleighnut]

I had a problem installing some anti-virus stuff from Symantec a few years ago. Their help line suggested that they take remote control of my PC to delve into its tripes. Two hours later, it was completely and utterly dead. I lost all the un-backed up stuff on the hard disk and had to re-install the OS from scratch. I don't let outsiders p#ss about with my PC these days, even "experts".

On my IT technicians course one of the things we were warned about is not to start any task unless we were absolutely positively sure we knew what were doing.
Apparently the most dangerous thing is someone who thinks that they know what they're doing...........................and doesn't.

 

[rich p]

Yebbut, have you bought a new car yet?

 

[Crackle]

Yebbut, have you bought a new car yet?

This could be my biggest chance in a rdbt way. As a member of the dog walking Lottery I pay my dues. However, because I accept no payment for my help, they have now conspired to not tell me when my dues are due and pay it themselves. It could be the largest support payment in history. Alternatively, I may need to take a loan out… ..

 

[mjr]

Yes, I hadn't even thought to static IP. I very much doubt they would have one, which would require more conjuring.

They don't need one. You run your client in listen mode and they connect to it. If you have static IP or dynamic DNS hostname, it's easy. Otherwise, you have to give them your IP address but that isn't much harder than passing team viewer numbers around.

 

[Crackle]

They don't need one. You run your client in listen mode and they connect to it. If you have static IP or dynamic DNS hostname, it's easy. Otherwise, you have to give them your IP address but that isn't much harder than passing team viewer numbers around.

Yes true. It's a thought. I would really prefer they had to do nothing. Having to do anything is potentially fraught with difficulty. This is not an office environmenf.

 

[PaulSecteur]

Teamviewer is good, but please let the less tech savvy people you help now not to ever let the"we detecteted a problem on your PC" phonecall people to ever use it.

 

[Crackle]

Teamviewer is good, but please let the less tech savvy people you help now not to ever let the"we detecteted a problem on your PC" phonecall people to ever use it.

We've had that conversation.

I've got to nip around today. everything has stopped working it seems. Not really sure what they've done from the description. Deleted a system file maybe. It wasn't that long ago I cleaned it up and removed a ton of malware, so if push comes to shove I may be able to go back to a restore point.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Can't you just tell them all to **** off?