# Best way to let myself access files on my PC when I'm not there? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 21, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-let-myself-access-files-on-my-pc-when-im-not-there/235494 "2004-03-21T02:28:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-let-myself-access-files-on-my-pc-when-im-not-there/235494/1 "2004-03-21T02:28:49Z")
OK, so I have encountered several instances when I might beed to access things on my computer when I am not at my computer. I would simply set up an FTP, but I am on a network that connects to the internet, so I actually not only don’t know what FTP someone not on the network would use to get to my FTP, but the IP is dynamic within the network, and the guy here who knows a lot about this stuff says that an FTP is tricky because it involves opening a lot of ports on the firewall. He suggested remote desktopping, and something else involing the letters S and H, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-let-myself-access-files-on-my-pc-when-im-not-there/235494/2 "2004-03-21T02:32:30Z")
Symantec’s [PCanywhere](http://www.symantec.com/pcanywhere/Consumer/index.html) is pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-let-myself-access-files-on-my-pc-when-im-not-there/235494/3 "2004-03-21T02:34:33Z")
Ah, but I lack the requisite $200.00. It would also be nice to have something to allow other people to access files as well. So nothing that requires additional software on the other end, in other words, if such a thing exists in the first place. I really know nothing about this sort of stuff. ---
**Author:** ![biqu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@biqu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biqu)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-let-myself-access-files-on-my-pc-when-im-not-there/235494/4 "2004-03-21T02:52:34Z")
On my home computer, I run an SSH server (which doubles as a secure FTP server) and use [DynDNS](http://www.dyndns.org/) to associate an unchanging hostname with my dynamic IP address. If I wanted to allow others to access my files, I would add an unprivileged account to my box and share the password with people whom I would want to have access. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-let-myself-access-files-on-my-pc-when-im-not-there/235494/5 "2004-03-21T03:06:19Z")
VNC is the free equivilant of PC anywhere. Also, if your running Windows XP, it has the feature built in under the name of Remote Assistance. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-let-myself-access-files-on-my-pc-when-im-not-there/235494/6 "2004-03-21T03:11:53Z")
[EasyServ](http://www.gmgdesign.com/products/easyServ/index.php) is a little freeware, nerd-developed solution that may work for you. It has simple password protection and uses HTTP for transfers, so you can get at your files from any PC that is configured to allow web access. One downside to using EasyServ is that most spyware removal tools will peg it as malicious – and for good reason – it could be used maliciously, if someone snuck the server program onto a computer that wasn’t theirs. **Shalmanese** , I haven’t seen a version of VNC that supports file transfers. Got a link? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-let-myself-access-files-on-my-pc-when-im-not-there/235494/7 "2004-03-21T03:28:03Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > [EasyServ](http://www.gmgdesign.com/products/easyServ/index.php) is a little freeware, nerd-developed solution that may work for you. > > It has simple password protection and uses HTTP for transfers, so you can get at your files from any PC that is configured to allow web access. > > One downside to using EasyServ is that most spyware removal tools will peg it as malicious – and for good reason – it could be used maliciously, if someone snuck the server program onto a computer that wasn’t theirs. > > **Shalmanese** , I haven’t seen a version of VNC that supports file transfers. Got a link? Quick questions/concerns: Does the PC I am accessing the files from need the software, or just a webrowser? Also, my anti-virus labeled the easyServ.exe file as a backdoor trojan. I assume this is just simply because it is a known file that allows access to my PC? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-let-myself-access-files-on-my-pc-when-im-not-there/235494/8 "2004-03-21T03:31:12Z")
Nevermind, I read the TXT file and some of my questions were answered. So yes, the client needs the software. However, I still run into the problem of not knowing knowing my actual IP address, IPCONFIG just gives me my internal network IP of 192.168.1.x. I realize there is a way to know my real IP, I just don’t know how to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-let-myself-access-files-on-my-pc-when-im-not-there/235494/9 "2004-03-21T03:54:15Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Nevermind, I read the TXT file and some of my questions were answered. So yes, the client needs the software. However, I still run into the problem of not knowing knowing my actual IP address, IPCONFIG just gives me my internal network IP of 192.168.1.x. I realize there is a way to know my real IP, I just don’t know how to do it. [Go here to find your IP](http://www.broadbandreports.com/whois) ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-let-myself-access-files-on-my-pc-when-im-not-there/235494/10 "2004-03-21T04:19:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Also, my anti-virus labeled the easyServ.exe file as a backdoor trojan. I _think_ that just the potential for unauthorized use is enough to get it labelled malware as a precaution. At the same time I should say that I wouldn’t make any unqualified endorsements of the program – only that it meets _my_ personal comfort level – I’ve installed it on a few systems and not seen any unusual traffic from it. If I were looking to get remote access to sensitive material, I’d go with something security-heavy like PCAnywhere, though. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JohnJet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@JohnJet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnJet)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-let-myself-access-files-on-my-pc-when-im-not-there/235494/11 "2004-03-21T04:21:01Z")
I just want to second what **amore ac studio** said. You might also look at [No-IP.info](http://no-ip.info). They have a client that updates your hostname whenever your IP changes, all automaticly. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-let-myself-access-files-on-my-pc-when-im-not-there/235494/12 "2004-03-21T04:27:48Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > **Shalmanese** , I haven’t seen a version of VNC that supports file transfers. Got a link? I use [Ult@VNC](http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net/index.html) and have never had any problems with it. I use it to connect through an SSH connection to a server on my home network using port forwarding. My network is all static IPs, though. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-let-myself-access-files-on-my-pc-when-im-not-there/235494/13 "2004-03-21T04:41:53Z")
Thanks, **Hodge** , that looks sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-let-myself-access-files-on-my-pc-when-im-not-there/235494/14 "2004-03-21T14:35:22Z")
If you go the FTP server route, be aware that your ISP might block the standard ports (20 and 21?). Mine does, and I had to configure my server to use different ports. Also, you might be violating the terms of your service agreement. ---
**Author:** ![Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bren_Cameron_1)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-let-myself-access-files-on-my-pc-when-im-not-there/235494/15 "2004-03-21T23:45:08Z")
I’m glad to see this thread, and I’m going to check out the suggestions–but I’ll also offer my current solution to the problem. I put any files I think I might need (I usually know what they will probably be, but if I’ve guessed wrong, I’m out of luck) in a particular folder, and then set that as my AIM filesharing folder. I restrict filesharing to a particular group on my buddy list, and then keep a second screen name as the only buddy in that group. When I’m on my laptop, I can sign on with that screen name and access files in that folder. So far it’s worked well for me, but I’m dreading the day I want to get something I haven’t planned to work with. I suppose I could set my whole C drive as the folder to share, but I’m reluctant to do that, especially since my method has worked well so far. ---
**Author:** ![bobk2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@bobk2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobk2)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-let-myself-access-files-on-my-pc-when-im-not-there/235494/16 "2004-03-22T02:10:20Z")
I subscribe to gotomypc ([www.gotomypc.com](http://www.gotomypc.com)) and it works quite well - I can access my pc’s ‘desktop’ from any other pc that has a webbrowser and internet connection. It costs about $10/month if you get a year subscription. I believe it has a lot of good features like allowing 'guests ’ although I seldom use them. I tried using VNC and found it to be painfully slow and did not accurately/clearly present my desktop to me. Also gotomypc employs a javascrpt as the ‘terminal’ on the remote access station which is transparently downloaded when you login to your account. VNC on the other hand required that I manually access and install the remote terminal software - like, I had to carry it around on a floppy or pull it off the web. gotomypc also works quite well even over a slow dial-up line. I know this sounds like an ad for them but I have no association with them and am just a satisfied customer.