Sometimes help is needed from an expert source outside of your home/company. That kind of help sometimes requires urgent assistance. What can we do to solve such issue, we can use an expert that uses remote tools, to access our computer, take control (with our approval) and see what we see, and perform actions on our computer that can solve our problem. Such remote tools can assist in solving software issues, and maybe recognize hardware issues, but if the hardware is damaged the client will need to replace it physically.

There are many tools out there to perform such tasks, some of them are free and some of them are better than others. I will specify some options and you can choose for yourself, which are suiting you best.

Free Remote Tools:

TEAMVIEWER – (You don’t need to know the client’s IP address) The TEAMVIEWER is the simplest application you can use for free. The program needs to be installed on both sides, on the provider of the support (the expert) that takes control and on the client that receives the support. The application is pretty simple when you run it; you get a screed that gives you an ID and a PASSWORD (usually 4 digits) and on the other side of the application window there is a place to enter the ID (of the computer you want to take control of), you need to get the ID from the client, and his PASSWORD and you just type his ID, connect and when you get the Password request, you just type his password in, and there it is just taking control of his computer, see his operating system desktop and his problem.

ULTRAVNC – (You need to know the client’s IP address) – The UltraVNC (VNC – Virtual Network Computing) is another free remote control application that you can use, the installation instructions are pretty simple, mostly pressing the “next” button until the program is installed. The UltraVNC is working with two sides, the server-side (the client receiving the support), and the client-side (which is the one giving the support – our specialist technician). The one that wants the support needs to install the server-side of the application, and then the remote helper can use his client application to connect to the server. The downfall of this option for a home user, is that this tool uses an IP, you have to know the address of the client you want to give support to, and most home users do not have a constant (permanent IP) from their ISP’s, so this solution will not fit a home user.

LogMeIn – (Using a web service) – The LogMeIn remote controlling program works through the web. You install on the receiving help computer a small listening client which will enable LogMeIn to connect to it. You create an account with LogMeIn (on their website), after registering, and confirming the e-mail we receive, we can log in to the account, and the computers we will set up will be on a list, that we can click, and log-in to those computers whether they are a home or work computer. We will get a user/password log-in screen – that’s the log-in credentials of the windows client you are trying to log-in to, you then click “remote control” and you will be able to see your windows desktop.

Crossloop – (You don’t need to know the clients IP address) – The CrossLoop remote controlling program works like the team-viewer, you have a session window that opens, and includes two tabs – the HOST (the one who needs the assistance), and the JOIN to give the help. You just send the Access-Code number to the one who you want help from. Both sides need to click connect, then you have about a 2 minutes period, to enable the connection (that’s for security reasons, so you won’t open your computer indefinitely then you need to approve the connection whether you share control or give full control to the helper, and you’re all done.

We always want to be in control and some of us have information at home that we might want to be able to access remotely. Accessing the home computer remotely means that you connecting to the internet and want to be able to access your home computer and perform certain operations. Those types of operations have some effect on which tool to use since some of the tools enable a certain type of access and some take control of your own computer, so you could see the same screen of your home computer as if you are standing in front of your computer.

There are certain security measures that need to be understood. When we open access from the outside to our computer we actually open a door for someone (hacker) to access our computer, or to be able to do so. If the door would be closed and shut with a brick of the wall, then it is closed. But if we decide to make an opening, an external person can reach that opening, and might, of course, use it to do some harm, see our materials (in case they are confident – it might be risky) or spy on our actions, and maybe if we do not pay attention to see some important information like when we log-in to our bank account from home or place a credit card number on an online website to purchase something. If your computer is breached all of those actions and more can happen to your home computer.

The remote access tools are being divided to online programs, software programs. The online programs are programs which are using internet technology to enable the remote connection like the LogMeIn, GoToMyPC, TEAMVIEWER, WEBEX PCNOW, some of the support people use WEBEX technique to gain access to your computer, seeing your screen, with your permission of course (you initiate the session) and you can see everything the support person does on your computer. The software programs are tools that open access and enable the end-user (remote person) to take control of your home computer. Some of these programs are TightVNC, RealVNC, Symantec PCAnywhere, LAPLINK and there is a built-in application in Windows XP, called remote desktop (you can run it by typing on the start–>run MSTSC).

Some programs might require you to set a permanent IP (called Static IP), which means that you will need to ask your ISP for a permanent IP to your computer. The ISP will give you an IP, and you will need to configure your home computer’s firewall NAT (network address translation) which means you will have an internal IP translated to the IP the ISP gave you. The only IP a remote person (or anyone outside of your home) will be the ISP IP, which protects your internal IP (no one will know what your internal IP is they will only know the external IP that you set on your home computer firewall. That IP directs to your computer, and so there is a way to access it, with the correct tools, and of course only by knowing the access password.