Computer Advice - Techos -> Non-Techos [Remote PC access while travelling?]

[Cruiser Elite]

I am fully aware there are many computer techos here in AFF and hopefully said techos might from time to time assist us computer blonks in matters that are beyond us.

I could really benefit from advice regarding a free remote login program that will allow me to login to our work computer from whichever country I am in. I currently use ‘Chrome Remote Desktop’ but It is painfully slow. We have previously used Team Viewer but it now will not allow me to connect for free.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

 

[odysseus]

Depends what computer (operating system) you have. Windows has the "Remote desktop connection" by default which is free.

 

[harvyk]

Might I suggest that you consider paying for a service, esp if it's a work computer (I'm assuming that the company is small enough that there is no dedicated IT) alternatively speak to your IT service provider about their recommendations.

As Odysseus mentioned, there are many built in methods for remote access, but do it wrong and you have potentailly opened up your work computer to hacking.

 

[daft009]

IMO team viewer would be the easiest. Not too expensive
Vnc can be free however as mentioned to make it secure takes some knowledge.

Windows remote desktop also should be secured over a VPN or similar however your remote PC needs a pro version of win10/7, not home.

 

[daft009]

Also the time it will save you is worth the fees. That time can be better spent earning more points

 

[FrankP]

Agreed about Team Viewer. I know ppl who use it and they’re very happy, none have reported issues. Dr. Google tells me it has an inbuilt VPN which is also a big bonus. Reason being that yes, you absolutely should use a VPN. And yes it should be a commercial VPN. So, money either way. If TV has one built in then thats a big plus.

Never be tempted by “free” VPN’s. They’re sometimes free with good service/reviews, to build their subscriber list, but then get too big too fast and the service drops off a cliff.

Worse though some “free” VPN’s have been exposed for scraping the data passing through and on-selling it. Precisely what a VPN should not do. Yet again, if it’s free, they you’re the product.

 

[cove]

CE I have access to our business computer from everywhere I go. As you already know I am a low skilled IT dude and I rely on our company nerds to have it work.Tonight I will access our system to get a debtors list printed back at the office for a morning review and we use Phocas to set out what we need to know in an understandable layout.
I don’t log in at airport lounges nor in WiFi linked planes to avoid hackers as much as I can. I never look up bank accounts in public locations.

 

[harvyk]

CE I have access to our business computer from everywhere I go. As you already know I am a low skilled IT dude and I rely on our company nerds to have it work.Tonight I will access our system to get a debtors list printed back at the office for a morning review and we use Phocas to set out what we need to know in an understandable layout.
I don’t log in at airport lounges nor in WiFi linked planes to avoid hackers as much as I can. I never look up bank accounts in public locations.

The risk isn't so much from using WiFi in public places, a properly secured connection is unlikely to be compromised. The risk is that by allowing a computer to be remoted in from the internet you have opened up a potential vector for an attacker to use. If you allow someone to remote in from the internet at any time day or night, nothing stops an attacker from trying the same thing. If you do not know how to monitor logs of your chosen remoting program an attacker could get in and you'd be none the wiser.

Attacks are rarely targeted. The most common type of attack being the script kiddie attack, (aka someone who downloads a "hacking program" and then points it to a range of the web and lets it simply try as many different attacks as it can.

About 15 years ago I was managing the security of a network, and you could always tell when school holidays started and ended by looking at our attack graphs. The number of (unsuccessful) attacks during school holidays doubled. They all typically followed the same pattern, in fact in the 18 months there was only ever one attack that was done by someone who knew what they where doing.

Now you've specified that you have the company nerd who has set this up. I'm kinda hoping that by company nerd you mean a person who is in the IT industry and knows what they are doing, and has the appropriate skills to properly set up and secure a remoting technology, because if they are not, and are simply a person in your company with an interest and some knowledge about computers, well as they say a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing.