Comments on: Hacking my clients?

Question: Hacking my clients?

cebailey — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 08:02:39 -0800

How can I remotely access my clients' PCs for tech support and troubleshooting?

In the near future, I will be providing tech support-type services to a few business clients around a major metropolitan area. It would be nice if I didn't have to drive across town to their office every time their computer starts acting weird.

I know with XP Professional, I could simply use Remote Desktop to log in and see their screen, which is the ideal solution for me, because I have a fair amount of experience with RD.

However, some of the PCs have XP Home, and I believe some have Windows 2000.

I know there are solutions like GoToMyPC and PCAnywhere, as well as others geared toward a more tech-supporty(?) audience. Does anyone have any recommendations?

By: bigmusic

bigmusic — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 08:07:07 -0800

Um, VNC.

By: cebailey

cebailey — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 08:10:11 -0800

WOW. WHAT A BRAIN FART ON MY PART. I'm even using VNC to control my Ubuntu home server with my iMac.

Move along people, nothing to see here.

By: cerebus19

cerebus19 — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 08:34:31 -0800

If they have a firewall, you may have problems using VNC. You can use Copilot to get around those issues, though.

By: thanotopsis

thanotopsis — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 08:57:07 -0800

If you're going with VNC, they have to install it on their end anyway, so you'll probably be Ok with allowing the passthrough on their firewall at that time.

By: wejones

wejones — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 10:12:13 -0800

As a paid consultant for business clients, you should remember that VNC (and Remote Desktop for that matter) use insecure network communication protocols.

Really, both of these protocols should be run over a secure channel, either VPN or SSH tunnel. Otherwise, there is a chance that data and passwords could be exposed to nefarious types.

By: RedMosquito

RedMosquito — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 10:21:12 -0800

http://www.logmein.com is pretty sweet.

By: fishfucker

fishfucker — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 11:43:48 -0800

This is what microsoft made "Remote Assistance" for. You can use Remote Assistance if the target computer is running XP Home.

I've never used it myself, but from the docs, I think it would be easier for the end user to set up than VNC (you just send them an email and they clickity click click, looks like -- probably takes care of windows firewalling too).

By: fishfucker

fishfucker — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 11:44:51 -0800

oh, and i believe you can use regular RDP with 2k, as it was basically the "pro" edition.

By: Mesach

Mesach — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 13:17:56 -0800

UltraVNC Single Click http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net/addons/singleclick.html

It packages VNC into a exe that all they need to do is click and only runs when they want help.

By: criticman

criticman — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 13:26:27 -0800

+1 for LogMeIn.com

Free service has been more than enough for over a year now for me. Even behind the strictest firewalls, I have no problems remoting to machines I have setup with the service.

The paid service adds the ability to copy files between machines. They also offer a IT support plan that allows you to connect to client machines without the software being installed. I believe you IM or email them a link, from which they can confirm and give you control.

By: evariste

evariste — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:45:24 -0800

VNC over SSH, no question. Or if you want to pay someone, Fog Creek Copilot.

By: dgeiser13

dgeiser13 — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 15:35:32 -0800

RE: wejones' comments

I disagree with the premise that RDP is insecure.

By: baylink

baylink — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 10:50:32 -0800

Concur; UltraVNC looks pretty spiffy, though I haven't yet deployed it myself.