Both Windows XP and Vista, along with Apple OSX, include integrated protocols for remote desktop connection. For business travelers, as well as those who need technical support, providing remote access to your PC can help to alleviate the problems that come with using multiple computers. As we shift toward a cloud-computing model, however, the idea of isolated physical machines is shifting towards a new model of data accessibility, increasing the need for enhanced security for remote connections.
On a simple level, you can enable your OS to allow for remote connections from a specified IP address or by way of a unique login, to allow you (or a trusted 3rd party) to have remote access to your desktop. A number of dedicated programs such as GoToMyPC and WebEx allow you to further filter these levels of access, so that you can, for example, provide yourself with complete access to your PC while giving technical support access only to certain functions (or folders.) These programs utilize the same basic technology as screen-sharing, and, in fact, they offer that capability, but also allow for variable interaction. Look for a program that provides a high level of encryption to ensure that any data transmissions are protected as well.
Security concerns should be paramount for those who need remote access, as you’ll have to make sure that nobody can gain unauthorized access to your machine files. In order to properly secure your machine, limit access to certain (approved) IP addresses and use difficult to guess passwords (also, never write down or save your passwords where they can be easily recovered.) Further, you’ll want to disable remote access outside of times when you need to establish a remote connections to limit your PC’s vulnerability.
