I have two sisters, both of which have computers that are overrun with adware. I've done my best via telephone to help them out, but they live too far away to actually go over and wrestle the keyboards out of their hands so I can disinfect their systems.

Does anyone have any experience with remote control apps? Hopefully I can find something that is free for them to install (I don't mind paying a bit up front, but I don't want monthly fees). It would also need to be foolproof for them to install, including making it past all the protections I've had them install that they defeat by clicking on web ads.

Then I could tell them to leave the room as I hack away at their system in peace ("but the popup said I was infected and had to click OK to install their software or my system would be damaged!")

But I use another tool that is fairly simple to download and set up while going thru the motions on my own computer while I talk them thru on the phone.

The program is a simple one startupCPL (http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml) mostly just shutting down lots of hidden things that start when windows does.. including adware and some other malware. surprising how few that appear are needed.

It installs in the control panel but I sometimes keep a shortcut on the desktop while I tweak it.

This alone has allowed me to help people get some speed back, especially older computers.

I tried a couple of remote access appl a few years back but I think the phone line was too slow.

I do think something like that was built into my recent edition of XP and I turned it off. Do you know of that one?

http://www.realvnc.com/
Never used vnc myself, but know some that have :bigthmb:

I do think something like that was built into my recent edition of XP and I turned it off. Do you know of that one?
Yes, it is available on mine too. We used it once when my son-in-law took over my computer from his home. I don't remember why we used it, but it seemed to work well.

Ed

GoToMyPC www.gotomypc.com

Dameware www.dameware.com

Free trial on both. Haven't used either, so can't make a recommendation.

gary,

isnt there also a commercial product called something like 'pcanywhere' or is that only single remote access?

also, i think 'iVisit' sports desktop sharing.

i also remember seeing one when 'the Screensavers' was still a good show (patrick and leo). i recall seeing a demo with a floating remote desktop over the user's own desktop, but i'd have to go back through tons of notes to find that one.

craig

Hi Craig,

PC anywhere is made by Symantec, and is supposed to be really easy to use, but it costs about $200, so I guess Doug wouldn't want to run to that kind of expense. May be a free trial available, might be worth checking.

Just checked, no Free Trial.

Just a tip. Google "Open source remote access software"
Seems to bring up quite a few free to use programs. :wink: