What You Can Achieve Using Remote PC Access

Sometimes, you're not near your computer, and you just need something on it. Or you want to let a technician into the inner workings of your machine, so that they can figure out what's wrong with it. People in either of these situations can benefit from having some form of remote PC access.

The software is a program that allows access to your computer's software and files from a different physical location, thus the name remote access. It can be configured to allow only certain programs and files to be accessed, keeping the security problem somewhat under control. But the opening that remote software creates can allow hackers to gain access, even if your settings are fairly private.

Windows computers have come with built-in remote access software since Windows 2000 and XP came out. The current Windows 7 OS has a remote access program that specifically allows you to play media from your home computer on any other computer, a feature which has been popular. The earlier versions have been criticized and characterized as hard to use and not as good as some other, both free and paid programs.

One of the benefits of remote access software is the ability to have a de-centralized workforce. If a single computer stores all the important information and data sheets, people from various locations can work on these files without being forced to commute to a single office locale. This can decrease the costs of running a business.

Being able to allow technicians to access your system remotely and figure out the problem for you can also be a great reliever of headaches and wallet-aches. The price for a remote consult is often much less than that of a hands-on diagnosis, and can be just as accurate. This also allows online and phone technical service to figure out the problem without the tedious process of relaying instructions and information back and forth. Remote access software is usually created to work best with a particular operating system, such as Windows, Mac, or Linux. Sometimes these programs are later adapted to run on other systems. Do some research before choosing your remote access software, so that you can make sure your choice usually works well with your OS. There are potential security problems with remote access software. Opening the machine to access with remote software can allow bugs and viruses into your system, so it's always a good idea to have a backup of your computer made before installing the software. If you only use the software once or a few times, consider removing it, then wiping and restoring your computer after you are done.

The good parts and the bad parts of remote PC access software make the decision easy for some people, but most will have to think about it for a while. If you truly need the functions of remote access, the risks may be worth taking. If you can do without, then you might find more peace of mind by not using it. If you do install or run any kind of remote access software, make sure to keep your antivirus software updated.