Remote Assistance Settings

[AliceZ]

We just installed wireless on our laptop so it connects to our dekstop
modem/router.
We happened to be looking in System Properties on the laptop and noticed the
following in "Remote Assistance Settings"

"Allow this computer to be controlled remotely."

And "YES" is checked.

Is that OKAY? (Security Problem) Or should the "YES" be UN-checked?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

AliceZ wrote:
> We just installed wireless on our laptop so it connects to our
> dekstop modem/router.
> We happened to be looking in System Properties on the laptop and
> noticed the following in "Remote Assistance Settings"
>
> "Allow this computer to be controlled remotely."
>
> And "YES" is checked.
>
> Is that OKAY? (Security Problem) Or should the "YES" be UN-checked?

You are behind a router?
Unless you have configured the router to allow the proper ports to pass
through it - you re fine. Also as long as you have strong passwords on your
account - you are fine.

Are you certain the section you are actually looking at is not labled
"Remote Desktop" and the section ABOVE that is "Remote Assistance"?

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

[AliceZ]

Our desktop is connected to Westell 327W modem/router. Both desktop and
laptop (wireless) have the following in System/System Properties/Remote:
Remote Assistance is CHECKED - Allow Remote Assistance invitations to be
sent from this computer.
When I click on ADVANCED - REMOTE is checked and states: Allow this computer
to be controlled remotely.
DSL
WinSPsp2
NIS
=============
"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> AliceZ wrote:
> > We just installed wireless on our laptop so it connects to our
> > dekstop modem/router.
> > We happened to be looking in System Properties on the laptop and
> > noticed the following in "Remote Assistance Settings"
> >
> > "Allow this computer to be controlled remotely."
> >
> > And "YES" is checked.
> >
> > Is that OKAY? (Security Problem) Or should the "YES" be UN-checked?
>
> You are behind a router?
> Unless you have configured the router to allow the proper ports to pass
> through it - you re fine. Also as long as you have strong passwords on your
> account - you are fine.
>
> Are you certain the section you are actually looking at is not labled
> "Remote Desktop" and the section ABOVE that is "Remote Assistance"?
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>

 

[jwgoerlich@gmail.com]

Is this computer part of an Active Directory domain? If so, then use
group policy to add another layer of protection. You can configure the
firewall to block remote assistance and remote desktop when not
connected to the domain. You can also set it up to only allow remote
assistance from the local subnet. This way, should the router be
opened up or the laptop moved to an unsecured network, the firewall
will block remote connections.

Regards,

J Wolfgang Goerlich


On Aug 5, 10:40 am, AliceZ <Ali...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> We just installed wireless on our laptop so it connects to our dekstop
> modem/router.
> We happened to be looking in System Properties on the laptop and noticed the
> following in "Remote Assistance Settings"
>
> "Allow this computer to be controlled remotely."
>
> And "YES" is checked.
>
> Is that OKAY? (Security Problem) Or should the "YES" be UN-checked?

 

[AliceZ]

We are getting very confused. We are new at all of this and inexperienced
with computers, etc. Our desktop is at home. And so is our laptop. Our
desktop has Westell 327W modem/router connected to it with Verizon DSL. Our
laptop is wireless connected to the Westell modem/router with WPA and 64
ASCII password. Also, have NIS.

=================
"jwgoerlich@gmail.com" wrote:

> Is this computer part of an Active Directory domain? If so, then use
> group policy to add another layer of protection. You can configure the
> firewall to block remote assistance and remote desktop when not
> connected to the domain. You can also set it up to only allow remote
> assistance from the local subnet. This way, should the router be
> opened up or the laptop moved to an unsecured network, the firewall
> will block remote connections.
>
> Regards,
>
> J Wolfgang Goerlich
>
>
> On Aug 5, 10:40 am, AliceZ <Ali...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> > We just installed wireless on our laptop so it connects to our dekstop
> > modem/router.
> > We happened to be looking in System Properties on the laptop and noticed the
> > following in "Remote Assistance Settings"
> >
> > "Allow this computer to be controlled remotely."
> >
> > And "YES" is checked.
> >
> > Is that OKAY? (Security Problem) Or should the "YES" be UN-checked?
>
>
>

 

[AliceZ]

Wanted to add that both my Desktop and Laptop have the following in Control
Panel/System:
Remote:
Box is CHECKED, and description reads: "Allow Remote Assistance invitations
to be sent from this computer."
When I then click on:
Advanced:
I see, Remote Control is CHECKED and it reads: "Allow this computer to be
controlled remotely."

We have Westell 327W modem/router attached by Ethernet cable to our Desktop.
(Use Laptop wireless to connect to Westesll 327W modem/router.)

Does everyone have these two boxes checked?


"AliceZ" wrote:

> We are getting very confused. We are new at all of this and inexperienced
> with computers, etc. Our desktop is at home. And so is our laptop. Our
> desktop has Westell 327W modem/router connected to it with Verizon DSL. Our
> laptop is wireless connected to the Westell modem/router with WPA and 64
> ASCII password. Also, have NIS.
>
> =================
> "jwgoerlich@gmail.com" wrote:
>
> > Is this computer part of an Active Directory domain? If so, then use
> > group policy to add another layer of protection. You can configure the
> > firewall to block remote assistance and remote desktop when not
> > connected to the domain. You can also set it up to only allow remote
> > assistance from the local subnet. This way, should the router be
> > opened up or the laptop moved to an unsecured network, the firewall
> > will block remote connections.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > J Wolfgang Goerlich
> >
> >
> > On Aug 5, 10:40 am, AliceZ <Ali...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> > > We just installed wireless on our laptop so it connects to our dekstop
> > > modem/router.
> > > We happened to be looking in System Properties on the laptop and noticed the
> > > following in "Remote Assistance Settings"
> > >
> > > "Allow this computer to be controlled remotely."
> > >
> > > And "YES" is checked.
> > >
> > > Is that OKAY? (Security Problem) Or should the "YES" be UN-checked?
> >
> >
> >

 

[Shenan Stanley]

AliceZ wrote:
> Wanted to add that both my Desktop and Laptop have the following in
> Control Panel/System:
> Remote:
> Box is CHECKED, and description reads: "Allow Remote Assistance
> invitations to be sent from this computer."
> When I then click on:
> Advanced:
> I see, Remote Control is CHECKED and it reads: "Allow this computer
> to be controlled remotely."
>
> We have Westell 327W modem/router attached by Ethernet cable to our
> Desktop. (Use Laptop wireless to connect to Westesll 327W
> modem/router.)
>
> Does everyone have these two boxes checked?

Let me say AGAIN that since you are behind an Internet Router and you
undoubtedly do not know how to forward ports on said router - as long as
those machines are used behind said router - you are fine.

Also - as long as you either have NO passwords (bad idea) or strong
passwords (best idea) set on the machines - the settings you have listed are
fine in almost all environments you might take said machines into.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html