Remote Access/Support (friends and family)

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mgeek

122 posts

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#280798 11-Jan-2021 13:27

What's recommend these days for remote IT supporting friends/family? Apart from avoiding like the plague that is... ;-)

Quick Assist is pretty simple but due to time zones etc I'd rather have 'set and forget' remote access than interactive remote support.

I note LogMeIn stopped being free a long time ago. TeamViewer looks good (and still free as this is entirely non-commercial), but how easy is it to set up on the non-techie end for remote access..? Remote support is presumably stupid simple, but can the recipient 'upgrade' to non-interactive access?

Or is there something else simpler?

Thanks all.

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#2633611 11-Jan-2021 13:36

TeamViewer. Super simple. Literally an install and away you go.

I use it with my parents all the time and have no issues.
Dad just starts TeamViewer (if its not already running) and gives me the code and password which comes up on the screen instantly and I can do the rest.

-- opinions expressed by me are solely my own. ie - personal

mgeek

122 posts

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#2633621 11-Jan-2021 13:54

Jiriteach:

Dad just starts TeamViewer (if its not already running) and gives me the code and password which comes up on the screen instantly and I can do the rest.

Does he have to do that every time though? I'm trying to avoid the repeated interactive bit.

Jiriteach

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#2633623 11-Jan-2021 13:56

mgeek:

Jiriteach:

Dad just starts TeamViewer (if its not already running) and gives me the code and password which comes up on the screen instantly and I can do the rest.

Does he have to do that every time though? I'm trying to avoid the repeated interactive bit.

Start up TeamViewer? No it runs a service so its always running. He does need to tell me the code however. I already know the password. The code/session ID does change for safety reasons. Password remains the same.

-- opinions expressed by me are solely my own. ie - personal

Jase2985

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#2633627 11-Jan-2021 14:00

Jiriteach:

Start up TeamViewer? No it runs a service so its always running. He does need to tell me the code however. I already know the password. The code/session ID does change for safety reasons. Password remains the same.

If the computer is attached to your teamviewer account i believe you can just connect to it that way with the password you set there as long as its running on the other end and connected to the net then you should be fine to connect to it.

askelon

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#2633628 11-Jan-2021 14:04

Anydesk.. Works very well..

Jiriteach

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#2633629 11-Jan-2021 14:05

Jase2985:

Jiriteach:

Start up TeamViewer? No it runs a service so its always running. He does need to tell me the code however. I already know the password. The code/session ID does change for safety reasons. Password remains the same.

If the computer is attached to your teamviewer account i believe you can just connect to it that way with the password you set there as long as its running on the other end and connected to the net then you should be fine to connect to it.

Ah - Didnt know. Thanks for the heads up.

-- opinions expressed by me are solely my own. ie - personal

nzlogan

76 posts

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#2633635 11-Jan-2021 14:10

I use AnyDesk and setup a password for unattended access. Super easy and I don't believe an account is required either.

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shk292

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#2633643 11-Jan-2021 14:23

I use teamviewer in the always-on, always authorised mode; it just makes it easier and less stressful if you can jump on there and sort out problems with no user interaction. It does take some setting up first time to enable this but after that it’s easy

mgeek

122 posts

Master Geek

#2633646 11-Jan-2021 14:27

AnyDesk looks interesting - not seen that before.

Is it actually free for non-commercial use though? I almost gave up looking as it seems to be US$150+ pa - but then noticed it mentions 'Commercial Use' for all 3 paid plans. But couldn't find anything that mentioned personal use? Even the 'configure your license' thingy recommends 'Lite' (at $150) after you select the "private person" option. Confused??

nzlogan

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#2633652 11-Jan-2021 14:39

You're right - the pricing structure is confusing, especially when the recommendation tool recommends a paid version for personal use...

On this page, it mentions it's free for personal use: "AnyDesk is also free of charge for personal use." and "If you’re a private user, you can keep using AnyDesk for free."

sbiddle

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#2633655 11-Jan-2021 14:43

Anydesk.

Teamviewer is great, but pretty useless these days unless you want to pay. If you could potentially use it more than once a week or so you'll get hit by their commercial use limit.

michaelmurfy

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#2633656 11-Jan-2021 14:46

I have Anydesk installed on my parents laptop - is 100% reliable every time they ask me to remote in.

I also have Teamviewer Quicksupport installed on their phones and never had a license issue.

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jarledb

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#2633667 11-Jan-2021 15:09

AnyDesk is free for personal use

This is what they say:

Free for evaluation and personal use

Try out AnyDesk for free, without having to provide any personal information. AnyDesk is also free of charge for personal use.

Used to use TeamViewer, but think their business practises are shady. Their communication at the time I bought the license was "No monthly fees" and as if it was a one time payment. And it cost accordingly. But then just a year later they basically told all my customers that my license was outdated - because the license was only for the version they had when I bought it, not the one that made it outdated less than a year later.

I don't mind paying a subscription. But think they should have communicated it more clearly that what you are actually signing up to is a subscription and not try to hide it the way they do/did.

Been very happy with AnyDesk. They charge me every year for the commercial license I have. But it is only 1/3 of what TeamViewer was charging.

Edit: I see now that TeamViewer is more clear about it actually being a subscription now. But I am not about to forgive them for their past shady business practise.

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Jase2985

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#2633668 11-Jan-2021 15:12

sbiddle:

Teamviewer is great, but pretty useless these days unless you want to pay. If you could potentially use it more than once a week or so you'll get hit by their commercial use limit.

only had that happen once a year ago after i installed it on our 5th computer at home, emails through and they unlocked the account, zero issues since.

panther2

374 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2633723 11-Jan-2021 16:11

askelon:
Anydesk.. Works very well..

Same use any desk small file and seems to work even to android phone

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