G
Guest
How can I setup remote access with Windoews XP home edition. Is there
freeware oth there that is secure?
freeware oth there that is secure?
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
S
Sooner Al [MVP]
UltraVNC with its encryption plug-in. Make sure you also install the XP
video driver on the XP Home host machine.
http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net/
--
Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)
Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
video driver on the XP Home host machine.
http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net/
--
Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)
Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
S
Steve Urbach
I use TightVNCHow can I setup remote access with Windoews XP home edition. Is there
freeware oth there that is secure?
Others use Ultra VNC
Search your favorite download site for VNC.
L
ljh
Use Logmein at www.logmein.com. It's just like GoToMyPC, but it offers a
FREE version.
No cost, no firewall settings (like with Remote Desktop and VNC versions),
and it works great!
FREE version.
No cost, no firewall settings (like with Remote Desktop and VNC versions),
and it works great!
S
Shenan Stanley
ljh said:Use Logmein at www.logmein.com. It's just like GoToMyPC, but it
offers a FREE version.
No cost, no firewall settings (like with Remote Desktop and VNC
versions), and it works great!
That's not *really* accurate..
The difference is not that there is no firewall settings - it just does it
for you during the install or it may ask you during the first use.
L
ljh
Shenan Stanley said:That's not *really* accurate..
The difference is not that there is no firewall settings - it just does it
for you during the install or it may ask you during the first use.
Shenan,
You are not telling the original poster the truth here. Logmein uses http
on port 80 and https on port 443 when no other ports are available. Doing
so allows it thru firewalls with NO changes whatsoever. Logmein does not
alter your firewall AT ALL.
"it may ask you...." indicates that you have not even tried Logmein.
Perhaps you should stick to things that you have tried and think you know.
The last thing we need here is another Microsoft zealot. People post here
because they need easy, applicable solutions and they don't give a tinker's
damn whether those solutions are from Microsoft or Joe's Freeware emporium.
Logmein is a free, easy and simple enough for anyone to use for remote PC
administration. It does NOT alter firewall settings. It can be used from
behind any firewall that allows you to surf the web (unless your admin
explicitly blocks the software from its servers - something I have yet to
see). The only things not in the free version of Logmein are the ability to
transfer files and the ability to print remotely.
In the future, please restrict your posts to things that you have at least
tried.
Thanks so much!
S
Sooner Al [MVP]
My issue with programs like Logmein is that you have to trust a third-party
that controls the server. Personally I like being in control whether its
using Remote Desktop or a VNC program like UltraVNC straight PC to PC or
routed through a VPN or SSH tunnel.
But that all comes down to your personal risk threshold.
--
Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)
Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
that controls the server. Personally I like being in control whether its
using Remote Desktop or a VNC program like UltraVNC straight PC to PC or
routed through a VPN or SSH tunnel.
But that all comes down to your personal risk threshold.
--
Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)
Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
S
Shenan Stanley
ljh said:Use Logmein at www.logmein.com. It's just like GoToMyPC, but it
offers a FREE version.
No cost, no firewall settings (like with Remote Desktop and VNC
versions), and it works great!
Shenan said:That's not *really* accurate..
The difference is not that there is no firewall settings - it just
does it for you during the install or it may ask you during the
first use.
Shenan,
You are not telling the original poster the truth here. Logmein
uses http on port 80 and https on port 443 when no other ports are
available. Doing so allows it thru firewalls with NO changes
whatsoever. Logmein does not alter your firewall AT ALL.
"it may ask you...." indicates that you have not even tried Logmein.
Perhaps you should stick to things that you have tried and think
you know.
The last thing we need here is another Microsoft zealot. People
post here because they need easy, applicable solutions and they
don't give a tinker's damn whether those solutions are from
Microsoft or Joe's Freeware emporium.
Logmein is a free, easy and simple enough for anyone to use for
remote PC administration. It does NOT alter firewall settings. It
can be used from behind any firewall that allows you to surf the
web (unless your admin explicitly blocks the software from its
servers - something I have yet to see). The only things not in the
free version of Logmein are the ability to transfer files and the
ability to print remotely.
In the future, please restrict your posts to things that you have
at least tried.
So.. You deny their own FAQ?
https://secure.logmein.com/go.asp?page=support_faq#security-02
LogMeIn is compatible with all known firewalls and broadband routers. It's
simple to use and requires no configuration. When you install LogMeIn, some
personal firewalls will display a message asking your permission for the
LogMeIn.exe and LogMeInsystray.exe program files to communicate over the
Internet. This is a secure part of LogMeIn and must be allowed to function
in order for the service to work.
Notice:
"When you install LogMeIn, some personal firewalls will display a message
asking your permission for the LogMeIn.exe and LogMeInsystray.exe program
files to communicate over the Internet."
Perhaps you should use the product you push on more than one badly secured
system?
Microsoft Zealot? Me? - hahaha Now that is funny.
Perhaps you should also research more before you jump to two incorrect
conclusions next time..
L
ljh
So.. You deny their own FAQ?
https://secure.logmein.com/go.asp?page=support_faq#security-02
LogMeIn is compatible with all known firewalls and broadband routers. It's
simple to use and requires no configuration. When you install LogMeIn,
some personal firewalls will display a message asking your permission for
the LogMeIn.exe and LogMeInsystray.exe program files to communicate over
the Internet. This is a secure part of LogMeIn and must be allowed to
function in order for the service to work.
Notice:
"When you install LogMeIn, some personal firewalls will display a message
asking your permission for the LogMeIn.exe and LogMeInsystray.exe program
files to communicate over the Internet."
So, you still haven't tried it, AND you can't read?
Where did you read that it alters the firewall settings in that quote? It
does not. It will connect to Logmein servers (to make your remotely
controlled PC available over the internet) and to your remotely controlled
PC over the internet - therefore it asks your permission to do so.
The way Logmein works is by using a dnynamic dns server at Logmein so that
you can find your PC without knowing the IP address (which changes with most
people's dydnamic IP addresses assigned by their ISPs). This makes your PC
available via a simple web interface without the need for a seperate DNS
service or knowing your ever changing IP.
Remote desktop requires you to always know what IP address your remotely
controlled PC is using to connect to the internet. With RDP, this requires
a static IP ($14.95/month at Bellsouth) or the use of a 3rd party Dynamic
DNS service like No-IP (www.no-ip.info). Logmein does this for you (for
free), and asks your permission to do so because it "pings" the dynamic dns
service to keep your PC always available.
Nothing you have quoted shows anything about changing the firewall settings.
Logmein does not need to change firewall settings.
Face it, Microsoft zealot, Logmein is secure and easier to use than RDP.
Perhaps you should use the product you push on more than one badly secured
system?
On 97 systems to date at 15 different small businesses. Never a
problem...never even a glitch.
128 bit encryption is used for the connections and you can enforce 3
username/password combos to get to any PC hosted on Logmein (Logmein user
info, Logmein connection info and PC username/password). How many does RDP
force you to know? One (PC username/password).
Microsoft Zealot? Me? - hahaha Now that is funny.
Perhaps you should also research more before you jump to two incorrect
conclusions next time..
These posts are all that I need. Like the fact that you convieniently
ignored " It's simple to use and requires no configuration." while insisting
that firewall settings must be configured, even though there is no mention
of such in the quoted text.
MVP.....right......
ljh
S
Shenan Stanley
ljh said:So, you still haven't tried it, AND you can't read?
Reading and comprehending.. I do both, you seem to only do the former.
Where did you read that it alters the firewall settings in that quote? It
does not.
Let me quote it again..
"When you install LogMeIn, some personal firewalls will display a
message asking your permission for the LogMeIn.exe and
LogMeInsystray.exe program files to communicate over the Internet."
See - where it says that "... some personal firewalls will display a message
asking your permission ..."?
Unless it is going to ignore you and your personal firewall is asking "just
because it was bored".. Then it is going to modify the firewall settings to
allow those two applications to communicate *if* you tell it to.
In other words - yes - in some cases (if your machine is secured with a
decent firewall - it may ask you and you may have to give it permissions to
allow those applications through your firewall (software) as exceptions.
As for the rest of your babblings - I leave your opinions to you. Since
those are, well, yours.
L
ljh
Shehan,
You began this discussion by saying "That's not *really* accurate..The
difference is not that there is no firewall settings - it just does it for
you during the install or it may ask you during the first use."
Are you now backing off of that deception?
What your personal firewall does (or does not do) is not under the control
of Logmein. Anal firewalls like Zone Alarm require the consent of the user
before ANY app can use the internet. How is this any different from RDP?
The firewall configuration that RDP requires when you are behind a router is
one of forwarding ports from the firewall for the internal IP address of the
pc being controlled. If you want to control more than 1 PC behind your
router, you need to forward more than 1 port via your router's firewall.
This is IN ADDITION to permissions for apps like Zone Alarm.
(And don't forget to make your internal PC's network IP address static for
use with RDP. Another thing you don't have to worry about with Logmein.)
Logmein requires NO PORT FORWARDING WHATSOEVER. Therefore, no configuration
to use it.
If you use Zone Alarm (or a similar app for a firewall) you have chosen to
block all internet access and probably understand how to allow Logmein
through it. This is not anything done by Logmein and is not changed by
Logmein - as you incorrectly asserted earlier.
This is a configuration for your firewall app, not one required by Logmein
any more than Internet Explorer requires firewall changes to work.
As you are not open to logic, I will not waste any more time with you.
Those that think will try Logmein and use it securely and easily from the
very start.
If they have any questions about Logmein, I will be happy to answer all that
I know.
ljh
You began this discussion by saying "That's not *really* accurate..The
difference is not that there is no firewall settings - it just does it for
you during the install or it may ask you during the first use."
Are you now backing off of that deception?
What your personal firewall does (or does not do) is not under the control
of Logmein. Anal firewalls like Zone Alarm require the consent of the user
before ANY app can use the internet. How is this any different from RDP?
The firewall configuration that RDP requires when you are behind a router is
one of forwarding ports from the firewall for the internal IP address of the
pc being controlled. If you want to control more than 1 PC behind your
router, you need to forward more than 1 port via your router's firewall.
This is IN ADDITION to permissions for apps like Zone Alarm.
(And don't forget to make your internal PC's network IP address static for
use with RDP. Another thing you don't have to worry about with Logmein.)
Logmein requires NO PORT FORWARDING WHATSOEVER. Therefore, no configuration
to use it.
If you use Zone Alarm (or a similar app for a firewall) you have chosen to
block all internet access and probably understand how to allow Logmein
through it. This is not anything done by Logmein and is not changed by
Logmein - as you incorrectly asserted earlier.
This is a configuration for your firewall app, not one required by Logmein
any more than Internet Explorer requires firewall changes to work.
As you are not open to logic, I will not waste any more time with you.
Those that think will try Logmein and use it securely and easily from the
very start.
If they have any questions about Logmein, I will be happy to answer all that
I know.
ljh
S
Shenan Stanley
ljh said:You began this discussion by saying "That's not *really*
accurate..The difference is not that there is no firewall settings
- it just does it for you during the install or it may ask you
during the first use."
And what you said wasn't..
Quoting you:
"No cost, no firewall settings"
I questioned the "No Firewall Settings".. Still do.
Are you now backing off of that deception?
See above.
What your personal firewall does (or does not do) is not under the
control of Logmein. Anal firewalls like Zone Alarm require the
consent of the user before ANY app can use the internet. How is
this any different from RDP?
Never said it was.
But you said "no firewall settings".
Not true.
If you have a properly configured two-way firewall - when it tries to access
the internet, that firewall will notify the user..
The user can then choose whether or not to allow this. If they allow it -
that exception is put in the firewall settings - thus - modifying the
firewall settings. Simple concept.
The firewall configuration that RDP requires when you are behind a
router is one of forwarding ports from the firewall for the
internal IP address of the pc being controlled. If you want to
control more than 1 PC behind your router, you need to forward
more than 1 port via your router's firewall. This is IN ADDITION to
permissions for apps like Zone Alarm.
Where did we get to routers from? This is about firewalls.
You could VPN-Tunnel. One port - behind the firewall.
(And don't forget to make your internal PC's network IP address
static for use with RDP. Another thing you don't have to worry
about with Logmein.)
Not necessary. Most routers (wait - why am I discussing routers - that has
nothing to do with firewalls.)
Logmein requires NO PORT FORWARDING WHATSOEVER. Therefore, no
configuration to use it.
Great - we were never discussin port forwarding.
If you use Zone Alarm (or a similar app for a firewall) you have
chosen to block all internet access and probably understand how to
allow Logmein through it. This is not anything done by Logmein and
is not changed by Logmein - as you incorrectly asserted earlier.
Never asserted it. I quoted that "... some personal firewalls will display
a message asking your permission ..." It's asking for the permission
BECAUSE of LogMeIn. Not randomly. So - in the end - LogMeIn is the REASON
for the question and the REASON for the change.
This is a configuration for your firewall app, not one required by
Logmein any more than Internet Explorer requires firewall changes
to work.
Yes - but you said, "no firewall settings".
As you are not open to logic, I will not waste any more time with
you. Those that think will try Logmein and use it securely and
easily from the very start.
I am open t logic. You went tyranical off the bat. I made a simple
statement that some firewall settings may have to be changed and that
firewall might ask to make the change in response to your statement, "no
firewall settings".
If they have any questions about Logmein, I will be happy to answer
all that I know.
Fantastic. Can always use someone to help out on the newsgroups!
D
derek.erb
There seems to be a lot of discussion here about "firewall
modification" or not. The confusion is probably linked to the
misunderstanding that there are two types of firewalls: hardware and
software.
Log Me In and Go To My PC are products which do not require you to
modify your HARDWARE Firewall. Just about any software program
installed on a Windows computer today requires you to tell Norton
Internet Security or Zone Alarm or whatever software firewall you're
using about it. This however can be done by a user on his own computer
without any great technical knowledge and does not require adminstrator
access to the hardware firewall.
I also think my experience with both companies may be appropriate:
I started using GoToMyPC in September 2004. It was an excellent
product and did exactly what I needed. I could control 65 PCs from a
distance and help my clients, wherever they may be in the world,
whenever they had a problem without having to leave my office. Having
used PC AnyWhere for years I thought this was the greatest invention
ever. I was paying "only" about US$ 700 per month for the 65 PCs and
thought this was excellent value for the money.
About 3 or 4 months ago (April 2006) I heard about Log Me In on a
telelvision show on the BBC while travelling. I gave the free version a
try first. I realised I could use the free version for about 20% of my
needs right away. The greatest limitation of the free version is no
file transfer. But I get around that generally with e-mail or
something else if necessary. I then decided to try the Pro version for
a month.
The Pro version was a revolutionary awakening for me. The Pro version
can do all sorts of thing Go To My PC doesn't. They've got this great
Dashboard feature which allows me to see what's going on in the client
computer without opening a remote control session. I can see the disk
space, the memory and processor usage, the current processes and the
event viewer. I can even go in and manage users, services, the
registry, automatic logons and a whole lot of other stuff without
bothering the user. The remote control system is seemless and offers a
very nice Chat function (as does GoToMyPC) and a screen resolution
management option which works great. The file transfer system in Log
Me In uses a file synchronisation system so when I upload files to a
given folder it only uploads those which have changed. This saves an
awful lot of time on slow connections.
The biggest difference for me is the management options. With GoToMyPC
I have to use an e-mail address and a different password to connect to
the client's computer. With 65 computers I ended up using the same
password everywhere as it was impossible to remember the GoToMyPC
password in addition to the user's password. With Log Me In it
automatically uses the user's password on the computer. It even lets
me use my user account on the user's computer, with my password,
whenever I want. This is much more secure for me as I can change the
windows password on the computer and Log Me In automatically uses the
new password. The other management option is that I can give my
assistant access to certain computers without giving him access to all.
I can even allow a client to connect to their own computers throught
he same account. I can see a connection log on every computer to see
who accessed it when. I can't do this with Go To My PC. The last, and
probably most useful, piece of equipment is the Network Console which
Log Me In sells ($199 per machine one-time charge). This allows me to
open one program and see all of the computers I can access on one
screen. It saves the access information for me so all I have to do is
choose a computer and I can remote control right away.
As you can see I had made up my mind. Two months ago I moved all of my
computers over to Log Me In. I am now paying Log Me In less than US$
200 per month (over 70% less) and am overjoyed with the product and
services.
That should have been the end of this story and allowed me to simply
compare products and have others benefit from my experience. I was
astounded when I then went to Go To My PC to cancel my subscription. I
had purchased a monthly subscription intentionally so as to be able to
change whenever technology and competition changed as it always does.
I was apparently mistaken. According to Go To My PC even though I pay
monthly I signed on for an annual contract. I therefore am now paying
Go To My PC US$ 700 per month for another 6 months (US$ 4,200) for
absolutely nothing! Buyer beware!!!
modification" or not. The confusion is probably linked to the
misunderstanding that there are two types of firewalls: hardware and
software.
Log Me In and Go To My PC are products which do not require you to
modify your HARDWARE Firewall. Just about any software program
installed on a Windows computer today requires you to tell Norton
Internet Security or Zone Alarm or whatever software firewall you're
using about it. This however can be done by a user on his own computer
without any great technical knowledge and does not require adminstrator
access to the hardware firewall.
I also think my experience with both companies may be appropriate:
I started using GoToMyPC in September 2004. It was an excellent
product and did exactly what I needed. I could control 65 PCs from a
distance and help my clients, wherever they may be in the world,
whenever they had a problem without having to leave my office. Having
used PC AnyWhere for years I thought this was the greatest invention
ever. I was paying "only" about US$ 700 per month for the 65 PCs and
thought this was excellent value for the money.
About 3 or 4 months ago (April 2006) I heard about Log Me In on a
telelvision show on the BBC while travelling. I gave the free version a
try first. I realised I could use the free version for about 20% of my
needs right away. The greatest limitation of the free version is no
file transfer. But I get around that generally with e-mail or
something else if necessary. I then decided to try the Pro version for
a month.
The Pro version was a revolutionary awakening for me. The Pro version
can do all sorts of thing Go To My PC doesn't. They've got this great
Dashboard feature which allows me to see what's going on in the client
computer without opening a remote control session. I can see the disk
space, the memory and processor usage, the current processes and the
event viewer. I can even go in and manage users, services, the
registry, automatic logons and a whole lot of other stuff without
bothering the user. The remote control system is seemless and offers a
very nice Chat function (as does GoToMyPC) and a screen resolution
management option which works great. The file transfer system in Log
Me In uses a file synchronisation system so when I upload files to a
given folder it only uploads those which have changed. This saves an
awful lot of time on slow connections.
The biggest difference for me is the management options. With GoToMyPC
I have to use an e-mail address and a different password to connect to
the client's computer. With 65 computers I ended up using the same
password everywhere as it was impossible to remember the GoToMyPC
password in addition to the user's password. With Log Me In it
automatically uses the user's password on the computer. It even lets
me use my user account on the user's computer, with my password,
whenever I want. This is much more secure for me as I can change the
windows password on the computer and Log Me In automatically uses the
new password. The other management option is that I can give my
assistant access to certain computers without giving him access to all.
I can even allow a client to connect to their own computers throught
he same account. I can see a connection log on every computer to see
who accessed it when. I can't do this with Go To My PC. The last, and
probably most useful, piece of equipment is the Network Console which
Log Me In sells ($199 per machine one-time charge). This allows me to
open one program and see all of the computers I can access on one
screen. It saves the access information for me so all I have to do is
choose a computer and I can remote control right away.
As you can see I had made up my mind. Two months ago I moved all of my
computers over to Log Me In. I am now paying Log Me In less than US$
200 per month (over 70% less) and am overjoyed with the product and
services.
That should have been the end of this story and allowed me to simply
compare products and have others benefit from my experience. I was
astounded when I then went to Go To My PC to cancel my subscription. I
had purchased a monthly subscription intentionally so as to be able to
change whenever technology and competition changed as it always does.
I was apparently mistaken. According to Go To My PC even though I pay
monthly I signed on for an annual contract. I therefore am now paying
Go To My PC US$ 700 per month for another 6 months (US$ 4,200) for
absolutely nothing! Buyer beware!!!