# distance access to your computer?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 16, 2002, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382 "2002-05-16T13:59:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)
#### Post date: [May 16, 2002, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/1 "2002-05-16T13:59:18Z")
Is it going to be possible, or is it now possible, for me to gain access to my home computer from my computer at work? I think I saw an internet ad about some software that would allow me to do such a thing, but I can’t find it, and I’m pretty skeptical anyway. What is this type of software called? Anyone have any ideas for me? thanks, dopers. xo, CC
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### Author:  [@Tattva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tattva)
#### Post date: [May 16, 2002, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/2 "2002-05-16T14:14:21Z")
Try [PCAnywhere.](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005T82Z/qid=1021558369/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/103-7781839-2507818)
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### Author:  [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)
#### Post date: [May 16, 2002, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/3 "2002-05-16T14:16:21Z")
There are a couple of things you could probably do, **CC**.
First off- if you have WindowsXP, you can enable the “Remote Desktop Connection”. (This is only if you have WindowsXP, and I think Win2000). You get to theseoptions when you right-click on “My Computer” and then click the “Remote” tab.
Something else you could do (if you don’t have WinXP/Win2K or if you don’t want to use RDC) is set up an FTP server. This will allow you to pick and choose what files will be accessible from a remote connection. There is a lot of Freeware on the web to do this. I am pretty happy with “CaesarFTP”, personally.
In any case, security can be a problem. Whenever you talk about any process that requires a login, security can be a problem. I’m not very well versed in THAT part of this technology, but I’m sure it won’t be too long before a Doper who knows about this can give their two cents.
LilShieste
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### Author:  [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)
#### Post date: [May 16, 2002, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/4 "2002-05-16T14:22:33Z")
I use Timbuktu, which is fast and reliable and cross-platform (MacOS, MacOS X, WinXP/2K/NT, Win95/98/ME, sorry no Linux as far as I know). If you have firewalls, either at work or at home, you may need to set up a VPN (virtual private network).
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### Author:  [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)
#### Post date: [May 16, 2002, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/5 "2002-05-16T15:53:50Z")
Try VNC - fast, free and lightweight, and runs on many different platforms ( most versions of Windows, UN\*X, Mac…) I love that it fits on a floppy.
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### Author:  [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)
#### Post date: [May 16, 2002, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/6 "2002-05-16T15:59:09Z")
Try VNC - fast, free and lightweight, and runs on many different platforms ( most versions of Windows, UN\*X, Mac…) I love that it fits on a floppy.
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### Author:  [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)
#### Post date: [May 16, 2002, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/7 "2002-05-16T16:30:34Z")
Hmmm…I am SURE I only clicked “Submit” once - my first double post and I plead innocent!
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### Author:  [@abel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abel)
#### Post date: [May 16, 2002, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/8 "2002-05-16T23:43:24Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by LilShieste \*
> **First off- if you have WindowsXP, you can enable the “Remote Desktop Connection”. (This is only if you have WindowsXP, and I think Win2000). You get to theseoptions when you right-click on “My Computer” and then click the “Remote” tab.**
One thing that should be mentioned is that this is only an option in CP Professional, not XP Home.
Abel
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### Author:  [@abel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abel)
#### Post date: [May 16, 2002, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/9 "2002-05-16T23:44:29Z")
umm, make that “XP” Professional.
Stupid graphics card errors… I can’t even read what I’m typing.
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### Author:  [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2002, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/10 "2002-05-17T00:03:30Z")
Are you sure? I’m running XP home and under
programs-\>accessories-\>communications-\> I have a “remote desktop connection” program.
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### Author:  [@abel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abel)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2002, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/11 "2002-05-17T00:07:38Z")
Really? Did it install like that?
Microsoft is so messed up sometimes. It says right [here](http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/choosing2.asp) that XP Home doesn’t come with Remote Desktop. Silly Billy.
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### Author:  [@glilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glilly)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2002, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/12 "2002-05-17T01:22:59Z")
[www.GoToMyPC.com](http://www.GoToMyPC.com) has a monthly service that seems to work well–you can access your computer from anywhere on the internet.
It got a good review in the Wall St Journal.
But again, you gotta pay by the month.
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### Author:  [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2002, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/13 "2002-05-17T01:36:37Z")
I’ll toss out another mention of VNC. It’s used in large number of IT shops. It pretty much gives you a real Windows desktop, remotely. The only drawback is that it’s fairly slow (although not ridiculously so, over a decent connection). We used it to remote login into our many WinNT boxes back in 2000/2001, and it definitely served the purpose well.
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### Author:  [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2002, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/14 "2002-05-17T02:39:14Z")
Another _great_ thing about VNC, in my opnion, is that you don’t need to install client software on the computer you’re accessing from - you can get to your remote machine using any Java-enabled browser over port 5800. I use it extensively on my own LAN and over VPN to get to my desktop machine at the office; I find if you set the colors to 8 bit depth, it’s usably fast even over VPN over a WAN.
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### Author:  [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2002, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/15 "2002-05-17T03:08:14Z")
I’ll just add that I used PCAnywhere a long time ago and it worked quite well. As I recall it has a very good software compression which wuold help if you are doing dial-up.
I don’t know anything about that other products mentioned.
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### Author:  [@galt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galt)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2002, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/16 "2002-05-17T07:59:45Z")
Regarding XP Home having the remote desktop program: XP Home has the remote desktop **client** application, meaning you can connect to another computer and view its desktop from an XP Home machine, but XP Home does not have the remote desktop **server** built in, so you cannot log into a XP Home machine remotely using remote desktop.
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### Author:  [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2002, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/17 "2002-05-17T12:06:15Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by glilly \*
> **[www.GoToMyPC.com](http://www.GoToMyPC.com) has a monthly service that seems to work well–you can access your computer from anywhere on the internet.**
This product has the computing security community in an uproar. Remote access devices like this are difficult to protect against if you’re a corporate IT security admin. I haven’t put a block on [gotomypc.com](http://gotomypc.com)’s site in our corprate firewall yet, but I’m strongly considering it.
That aside, it should be noted that [gotomypc.com](http://gotomypc.com) is a spammer (there are now reports of unsolicited emails touting their product) and should not be supported on that basis alone. Reputable businesses do not advertise via spam.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2002, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/18 "2002-05-17T13:33:38Z")
> [@](#):
>
> _Originally posted by DarrenS \*
> \*\*Try VNC - fast, free and lightweight, and runs on many different platforms ( most versions of Windows, UN_X, Mac…) I love that it fits on a floppy. \*\*
I like VNC a lot. I use it in my limited-access network at my job, but I WOULD NOT use it to connect over the open Internet.
VNC has two serious security flaws:
1. The entire session is transmitted without encryption. It would be minimally difficult for someone who was sniffing the line involved to steal your VNC password.
2. It is possible to brute force guess your password on the VNC server. Setting a long and highly random password can minimize these risks.
If you must connect via the open Internet, I suggest springing for RemotelyAnywhere or PCAnywhere. Either has adequate encryption facilities and either is faster than VNC.
## If you’re planning on using a DIAL-UP connection to your home PC to do this though, I believe VNC’s security flaws should not be a concern.
[www.jwoodall.com](http://www.jwoodall.com)
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### Author:  [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2002, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/19 "2002-05-17T13:53:39Z")
Also,you would want a Bios that supports turning your computer on by modem.
What that does is it turns the computer on when you call it.
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### Author:  [@KellyM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KellyM)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2002, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/distance-access-to-your-computer/109382/20 "2002-05-17T14:36:33Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Jonathan Woodall \*
> **If you’re planning on using a DIAL-UP connection to your home PC to do this though, I believe VNC’s security flaws should not be a concern.**
Assuming you’re not worried about some kid discovering your modem line, dialing in, and taking over your computer.
Yes, this does happen. If you have modems that auto-answer, you had better protect them. People still do “modem hunts” (although not as much as they used to).
Inadequately securied remote access technologies present significant securitys risk and should always be viewed with suspicion. GoToMyPC is especially worrisome because you’re relying on an ASP which you know nothing at all about. At least with PCAnyWhere, Timbuktoo, and VNC the technologies are well-understood, documented, and reasonably well-analyzed by the industry.