Internet-Based Remote Access Versus Using Windows XP Remote Access

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jason Saffer
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J

Jason Saffer

Hi all,

My cable modem company only allows for dynamic IP addresses for my home
computer. This makes for some difficulties trying to consistently access my
home computer from my office laptop.

One possible workaround is to use an Internet/browser based remote service,
like www.logmein.com which allows me to access my home computer via their
software and my browser, utilizing the home computer's name and not the IP
address. So far, the logmein.com approach works fine.

But I'm wondering whether the logmein.com type of Internet/browser based is
less secure than the remote access method that comes with Windows XP Pro. Am
I opening myself up to more possibility of someone getting hold of my home
computer using a method such as logmein.com versus the Windows XP Pro remote
method?

I'd appreciate any ideas and thoughts on this question. Thanks very much.


.....Jason
 
Jason said:
My cable modem company only allows for dynamic IP addresses for my
home computer. This makes for some difficulties trying to
consistently access my home computer from my office laptop.
Click to expand...

No - not really. Dynamic DNS services are abundant and free.
http://www.dyndns.com is one I use frequently.
One possible workaround is to use an Internet/browser based remote
service, like www.logmein.com which allows me to access my home
computer via their software and my browser, utilizing the home
computer's name and not the IP address. So far, the logmein.com
approach works fine.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't use a third party software when you don't have to. =)
Look into the Dynamic DNS services.
But I'm wondering whether the logmein.com type of Internet/browser
based is less secure than the remote access method that comes with
Windows XP Pro. Am I opening myself up to more possibility of
someone getting hold of my home computer using a method such as
logmein.com versus the Windows XP Pro remote method?
Click to expand...

No idea. You wold have to read up on their service.
I'd appreciate any ideas and thoughts on this question. Thanks very
much.
Click to expand...

Utilizing a Dynamic DNS service and opeing the correct ports in any
firewalls you use as well as forwarding the proper ports through any NAT
devices is the best method for 99% of users, in my opinion (those with the
capability to do so, anyway.)

Might want to look through this:
http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/RemoteDesktop/RemoteDesktopSetupandTroubleshooting.html
 
Dear Shenan,

Thanks very much for your very helpful reply. I have signed upw ith
www.dyndns.com and have also installed the client program they recommended
so that my dynamic ip address will be continually updated with dyndns.com

So, here's my next question. Now that I've got all this set up, and I've got
a new .selfip.com site registered, do I now do the following when I want to
access my home computer from my office laptop: do I call up XP's remote
access window and just enter the .selfip.com address in the "Computer Name"
line of the remote access window? Is that all there is to it?

I've also got ZoneAlarm on my home computer. Anything I need to do to
configure that?

Please let me know if I've got this right. Thanks very much.

.....Jason
 
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