Remote Assistance Safety

If I am remotely assisting another computer, and they are having to lower
their firewall to let me in, can hackers more easily access their computer?
I don't want to jeopordize their system.

It really depends on how much they are lowering it to let you in. Hopefully
they aren't just turning it off. I would recommend you give them your IP
address and they add an exception just for you.


Mark

"js248" <js248@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E0037B65-76DF-4B2F-81D3-364CC633EE91@microsoft.com...

> If I am remotely assisting another computer, and they are having to lower
> their firewall to let me in, can hackers more easily access their
> computer?
> I don't want to jeopordize their system.

Thank you Mark. When and if we set this up, I will make sure that it is only
our IP address they add. I know little to nothing about this, but am trying
to learn all I can before utilizing this tool. Do you also know if it is
going to be a problem if I have Vista and they have XP?

"Mark Burnett" wrote:

> It really depends on how much they are lowering it to let you in. Hopefully
> they aren't just turning it off. I would recommend you give them your IP
> address and they add an exception just for you.
>
>
> Mark
>
> "js248" <js248@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:E0037B65-76DF-4B2F-81D3-364CC633EE91@microsoft.com...

>

Nope, you might get a message about not connecting as securly as possible,
since it is an XP machine. Works fine though.

"js248" <js248@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:ACD18865-EA69-4196-BD53-0F2D4B9F3365@microsoft.com...

> Thank you Mark. When and if we set this up, I will make sure that it is
> only
> our IP address they add. I know little to nothing about this, but am
> trying
> to learn all I can before utilizing this tool. Do you also know if it is
> going to be a problem if I have Vista and they have XP?
>
> "Mark Burnett" wrote:
>

>> If I am remotely assisting another computer, and they are having to lower

>
> It really depends on how much they are lowering it to let you in.
> Hopefully they aren't just turning it off. I would recommend you give them
> your IP address and they add an exception just for you.
>

Assuming we're talking about the Windows Firewall, is that even necessary?
Shouldn't it be enough for the user to enable "Allow Remote Assistance
Connections to this Computer" in Control Panel/System/Remote Settings? That
opens the port and allows the pre-authorized access. I say "pre-authorized"
because I believe the user needs to email an invitation to the tech first.
Is this correct?