JulianSchrader.de

Support Parents, Friends and Co-Workers Easily By Sharing Screens With TeamViewer

When my grandfather got his MacBook two years ago I set up a VNC server and an account with DynDNS which is kept up-to-date by a daemon on the Mac. Two permanently forwarded ports in his router (read: two holes in the firewall) allow me to access his computer via ssh and to log on to remote control it via VNC.

The advantage is that I can remote-control his MacBook as long as it’s running in his home office. This method doesn’t require any interaction with his computer, which means I can do everything remotely without anyone sitting there. But it also means to a) have everything set up on-site initially before there are any problems and b) to have the system running 24/7. Not the most convenient solution.

Enter TeamViewer.

Instantly take control over a computer anywhere on the Internet, even through firewalls. No installation required, just use it fast and secure.

Well, yeah. That’s pretty much it — you’ll need to talk to them (e.g. Phone/Skype):

1. Point your browser to TeamViewer.com and download the “Full Version” of the TeamViewer software.
2. Tell the person you’re going to support to do the same, they should choose the “Customer Module”.
3. Both of you: Start the downloaded software.
4. Let them tell you their Partner ID and auto-generated password, enter it.
5. Connection established.

Everything’s fully encrypted, so you don’t have to worry about your data. And — unlike iChat’s screen sharing feature — it works. Cross-plattform as well. Everytime someone asks me for help with his or her PC or Mac, TeamViewer is part of the solution.

There’s even more TeamViewer can do — and for personal use, it’s free. Check it out, I think it’s great

→ TeamViewer.com