In an age when computers are indispensable, technical support workers are becoming more and more in demand. These people should not only be able to fix any problem, but also be able to explain how to do it to users who are often much less educated in terms of computer terminology. It is in such cases that the Remote Assistance utility in Windows will be most useful.

Remote Assistance in Windows 7

The Remote Assistance program allows you to connect to the user's computer from another device and independently perform the steps necessary for technical assistance. This saves a lot of time for explanations and allows the system administrator to repair users' computers from his workplace.

Enabling and disabling the utility

Remote Assistance is connected as follows:

1. Through the Start menu, go to System Preferences. To do this, right-click on the "Computer" item and select the "Properties" section in the context menu.
2. Then go to the remote access setting by clicking the appropriate line on the left pane of the window.
3. Make sure there is a checkmark next to the item that allows connection using the Remote Assistance service. If this checkbox is missing, check it.
4. In the advanced settings, set the conditions for using the "Remote Assistance". It is worth setting a few hours as a deadline so that in the future it does not interfere with your work.

This will enable "Remote Assistance" on the device. To turn it off, you can go to the settings in the same way and uncheck the corresponding section.

Using Remote Assistance

The user is obliged to invite a technical staff member for assistance. This is done as follows:

1. In the Start menu, find the Windows Remote Assistance application and launch it.
2. As an invitation, you can use access via e-mail or through a specially created file. In the second option, the file must be saved to a folder that is accessible from both devices (this is the best way, although, of course, you can transfer it on media). Any file name is allowed.
3. After saving the invitation file, you will be able to get a device access code. A request for this code will appear when connected to a computer.
4. Now you or your system administrator must log in from the computer that will be used for assistance through the "Remote Assistance". After that, you need to run the invitation file.
5. The utility will ask you for your login information. It is here that you will need to enter the code that the owner of the device previously received. Let him send it to you or tell you by voice.
6. The user who needs help will be prompted to access their device. It must allow the connection in order for the connection to be established.
7. After that, the connection will be established. The "Assistant" will have the ability to control your computer in real time, and he will see your desktop. With the help of a special panel, you can control actions.

Some actions will also require confirmation. For example, when starting remote control, the user will be required to allow control of his desktop.

Through a local network, you can simplify the connection of remote assistance by selecting the Easy Connect option.

Let's take a closer look at the meaning of each button for the effective use of the program:

• Request control - this action requires additional confirmation to users. After it, you will be able to directly control the user's desktop and files using the keyboard and mouse. This is the main command and is used for most settings and technical assistance.
• True Size - Clicking this button will expand the user's desktop to the full screen of your computer (if they are the same size). This is necessary for more comfortable work with the device.
• Conversation - this key connects the voice chat between the "Assistant" and the user. It can be very useful to explain to the user the reason for the error or to clarify with him what exactly his problem is.
• Options - Clicking this button opens the Remote Assistance settings. There you can change the connection quality and other parameters. If the transfer is intermittent, try to more accurately specify the speed of your Internet in the settings.
• Help - this button will open the technical help for the program, where its capabilities are discussed in detail.
• Suspend - when controlling someone else's desktop, this button stops the process and returns control to the user.

Video: How to use Remote Assistance in Windows 7

Configuring the utility through the Group Policy Editor

Using a setting in the local group policy, you can create the Remote Assistance permission and use it on all computers on the local network without individually configuring each of them. It should be noted that this setting is not available in the Home version of Windows 7. In other versions of this operating system, it is carried out as follows:

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor. To do this, in the "Run" window (Win + R), enter the command gpedit.msc and confirm the entry.
2. In the directory of the local computer, go to the path: "Computer Configuration / Administrative Templates / System / Remote Assistance". There, double-click on the “Request Remote Assistance” option.
3. Set the value to "enable" in the settings for requesting remote assistance and accept the changes.
4. Then open the item "Offer remote assistance" and also enable it. In addition, in this window, you must give permission to remotely control the computer in the lower settings window.
5. Then, under the settings that you were engaged in, click on the "Show" button. A window will open where you need to add a device from which remote assistance will be provided. It is enough to write in this window the computer login in the same form in which it is indicated on the local network.

Apply all the settings you have made, and remote access through the Group Policy Editor will be set. You should now be able to connect to all computers on the local network.

Connecting "Remote Assistance" without requesting access

Regardless of which of the methods listed above you set up Remote Assistance, when connecting, the user must still give you the rights to this action. This is not always convenient and often wastes extra time. In this case, Microsoft technical support will assert that it is impossible to disable the corresponding request. However, a way was found to circumvent their limitations.

To do this, you need to make changes to two files:

• in the C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\System\Remote Assistance\helpeeaccept.htm file, enter DoAccept() at the end of the LoadVariables group;
• in the file C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\System\Remote Assistance\Interaction\Server\TakeControlMsgs.htm at the end of the InitiateMsg group (but before return) enter onClickHandler(0).

You can make these changes using any text editor. And after that, the computer will no longer require access confirmation when connecting via Remote Assistance.

Problems using remote access

If you cannot connect using the Remote Assistance utility, check the following:

• Make sure you have a stable internet connection on both computers. If problems occur on either side, the connection may be interrupted. A LAN connection is ideal here, but if that's not possible, make sure the internet connection you're using is stable.
• Check if the user follows your instructions correctly and transmits data. If the user does not accept the connection request, the connection will not be established. The same will happen if you enter the wrong password when connecting.
• Disable your anti-virus programs and try connecting again. At the same time, it is third-party programs that can block the utility; by default, the Windows firewall makes "Remote Assistance" an exception to the blocking rules.

If this does not help, then the solution is probably in one of the services. Go to the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc command) and check the status of the following services:

• "Remote Desktop Help Session Manager" - this service must be enabled. If it is disabled, then you should switch it to the "manual" position.
• "Remote procedure call" - this service is necessary for the correct operation of the previous one.
• "Remote Assistance Request" - this service must be enabled on the local network for the "Remote Assistance" to work.

After you enable all the necessary services in the local group policy, the problem of starting the "Remote Assistance" will be fixed.

The Remote Assistance utility will help out an experienced technical support employee or system administrator more than once. After all, if you configure it once and fix problems, you can access the user's computer in a matter of minutes and provide him with any necessary assistance.

Computer security is based on three principles - reliable storage of personal data and important documents, discipline when surfing the Internet and the most limited access to a PC from the outside. Some system settings violate the third principle by allowing other network users to control the PC. In this article, we will figure out how to disable remote access to your computer.

As mentioned above, we will only change system settings that allow third-party users to view the contents of disks, change settings and perform other actions on our PC. Be aware that if you use remote desktops or the machine is part of a local area network that shares devices and software, the following steps may disrupt the entire system. The same applies to situations where you need to connect to remote computers or servers.

Disabling remote access is performed in several stages or steps.

• General prohibition of remote control.
• Turn off assistant.
• Disable related system services.

Step 1: General ban

With this action, we disable the ability to connect to your desktop using the built-in Windows function.

Access is disabled, now third-party users will not be able to perform actions on your computer, but will be able to view events using the assistant.

Step 2: Disabling Assistant

Remote Assistance allows you to passively view the desktop, or rather, all the actions you perform - opening files and folders, launching programs, and adjusting settings. In the same window where we turned off sharing, uncheck the box next to the item that allows remote assistance to connect and click "Apply".

Step 3: Disable Services

In the previous stages, we forbade performing operations and generally viewing our desktop, but do not rush to relax. Attackers, having gained access to a PC, may well change these settings. You can increase the level of security a little more by disabling some system services.

All the steps above can only be performed under an administrator account or by entering the appropriate password. That is why, in order to prevent changes to the system parameters from the outside, it is necessary to work only under an “account” that has ordinary rights (not “administrative”).

More:
Creating a new user on Windows 7, Windows 10
Manage account rights in Windows 10

Conclusion

Now you know how to disable remote control of a computer over a network. The steps in this article will help you improve system security and avoid many of the problems associated with network attacks and intrusions. True, you should not rest on your laurels, since no one has canceled virus-infected files that enter a PC via the Internet. Be vigilant, and troubles will bypass you.

Connected remote access to your computer gives other people the ability to control your computer, which means the security and safety of the data on it is in question. Today, we will consider in detail the question of how to disable remote access to a computer, and what actions need to be done to do this, using the example of Windows7.

Often, a person who is not versed in technology gives his computer to a specialist for configuration or troubleshooting. Often, such specialists turn out to be unscrupulous, in addition to troubleshooting, and receiving remuneration for their work, they leave remote access to the computer connected. This allows them to freely use any data, files stored on your computer.

Procedure for disabling remote access

1. First of all, click on the menu "Start", and right-click on the tab "Computer", then in the drop-down menu, select the item "Properties" as shown in the figure below. This will allow you to get into the section "Properties of the system".

Also, you can get to this section through "My computer" by clicking on the tab "Properties of the system" in the top horizontal menu (see picture below).

2. Entering the section "Properties of the system", click on the item "Setting up remote access", which is located in the upper left corner of the screen.

3. Next, a window will open with the option to disable remote access. Of the proposed options, put a circle on the item "Do not allow connections to this computer", and press "OK" thus blocking access to the computer.

Now let's talk about disabling Remote Assistance, with which you can invite someone to connect to your computer.

You can read more about Remote Assistance by clicking on the link located in the same window.

To disable Remote Assistance, just uncheck the corresponding item and click the button "OK" as shown in the figure below.

Remote PC Access allows other users to manage your data and system settings through a network connection. If you do not need this feature, disable it via the control panel menu.

You will need

• - access to a computer.

Instruction