Remote Desktop

If one is connecting to another computer with remote desktop and one does not copy files locally is it possible to get a virus from the remote computer? I am not familiar with what is saved locally when using remote desktop. The computer I am going to connect with does have viruses. The person needs help with their computer and I can help them with remote desktop, but I do not want to compromise my computer. I am fully up to date with XP SP2 and virus software.

-VBJB

I'd go into Options on Remote Desktop Connection, click the "Local Resources" tab, and make sure *nothing* was checked under "Local Devices."

And even then I'd probably connect through someone else's computer.  LOL

I'm willing to be corrected on this one!

Its a difficult one to judge, but I reckon that you could if the virus copied up a file to your profile and/or changed your profile (ie. HK_CurrentUser registry) in a malicious way.  Obviously, if you aren't using your roaming profile on said workstation, that wont work.  Other attack vectors I can't think of at the moment.

I can't remember any viruses using other attack vectors but I'm almost certain that no data is transmitted over an RDP link which could be used really maliciously.  If you are really worried, how about using Remote Assistance instead?

Isn't RDC just Terminal Services? If so, by default the TS packets don't allow transmission of files both ways. That happens through a completely separate set of packets.

I haven't played with RDC much at all, so I'm not sure if it's even a "feature" of it. However, like Karim said, check the options.

why don't you use web-based remote control tool? i'm using one -- Techinline Remote Desktop -- http://www.techinline.com/ -- and i'm totally satisfied with it. you can access your home pc from anywhere -- you'll only need an internet connection and a browser. in just half a minute, you'll be enjoying a ready-to-use remote desktop access environment. and no fuss...

I remember file copy is allowed if both computer are on the same subnet, so if you can't access the files on the remote machine through file share, the virus files can't get to you. It'd at most copy something to the clipboard, but since it can't control how you paste it on your PC, I guess it won't likely to harm even if the virus writer bother to do something to it.

When in doubt, why don't you follow others suggestion to use Remote assistance instead? It's designed to be a support tool, so I think scenerios like virus infection is in their mind when design it.

If you don't trust it either, you can always remote access it in a VPC session with undo disk enabled.

stanemte wrote:

why don't you use web-based remote control tool? i'm using one -- Techinline Remote Desktop -- http://www.techinline.com/ -- and i'm totally satisfied with it. you can access your home pc from anywhere -- you'll only need an internet connection and a browser. in just half a minute, you'll be enjoying a ready-to-use remote desktop access environment. and no fuss...

RoyalSchrubber wrote:

filthy marketers - boooo

Bas wrote:



RoyalSchrubber wrote: filthy marketers - boooo

Marketeers that are three years late, even.

There are some useful website that can make the remote desktop much easier. such as Gooer, GotomyPC, LogmeIn