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Thread: Did You Know Your Computer is Set to Allow Remote Access By Default?

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    Did You Know Your Computer is Set to Allow Remote Access By Default?

    Are you using windows as your operating system ?

    If the answer is yes you might want to do this;

    1- Click on the Windows Start button, click on "Control Panel", the Control Panel window will open (or in Windows 8, click on "Desktop" from the Windows Start Menu and then click on "Control Panel" when the desktop appears).

    2- Click on "System and Security" in the Control Panel.

    3 - Click on "System" in the System and Security - Control Panel.

    4- Click on Remote settings in the top left of the, System - Control Panel. The small "System Properties" window will open.

    5- In the "System Properties" window, click on tab titled "Remote" (if it's not already selected). Then, under "Remote Assistance", untick or remove the tick from "Allow remote connections to this computer". Then,* under "Remote Desktop", tick the radio button (the little circle) on "Don't allow connections to this computer".

    *this step doesn't apply to all versions of windows / computers


    I am posting this because a neighbour of ours got a phone call from a man who said he was from microsoft, within seconds he had taken control of our neighbours PC & demanded payment to free it, fortunately at this point they realised it was best to put the phone down & have had to pay for it repaired.


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    Wow, amazing advice thank you buddy. I use mac and windows so this is partially applicable.......and fully vital! Take heed people this is real. My brother is a whizz with this kinda stuff and I expressed some disbelief after a hacking at work that it was even possible. I then watched him prove it to me when my mouse control was taken by him as he spoke to me on the phone.

    This is very very real.

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    Quote Originally posted by 777 View Post
    Wow, amazing advice thank you buddy. I use mac and windows so this is partially applicable.......and fully vital! Take heed people this is real. My brother is a whizz with this kinda stuff and I expressed some disbelief after a hacking at work that it was even possible. I then watched him prove it to me when my mouse control was taken by him as he spoke to me on the phone.

    This is very very real.
    It certainly is, I couldn't believe it when I did the above & saw it was set to "allow remote access" on my laptop & PC, the above process was a bit simpler on W7.

    For those of us on staff or who have a website this is something that needs doing asap, its also probably how peedo porn is put on certain peoples hard drives that "they" want to frame.

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    I moderate from my iPad

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    Thanks Spiral, this was very useful, I never even suspected this remote control option was on as I installed the windows myself and never ever checked it .

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    Thanks Spiral !

    A friend from work got one of those calls a couple of months ago. Because she was having computer problems she thought it was legit. He got to her bank information but luckily the bank security system caught him, which was a blessing for her, but caused much problems to get everything fixed.

    I also got a call. The guy on the other end was very insisting... don't call us, we'll call you I answered and hung up the phone.

    I'll pass this important information along...

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    Thanks Spiral - job done, could save a lot of hassle -

    OTHER USERS PLEASE NOTE AND DO, JUST TAKES A COUPLE OF SECONDS. JP

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    I have had the remote function disabled for years. Very good advice.
    "To learn who rules over you simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize" -- Voltaire

    "Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people."-- Eleanor Roosevelt

    "Misery loves company. Wisdom has to look for it." -- Anonymous

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    just scratched the tick!
    thank you Spiral jjc

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    Every time I instal a fresh start with windows I do a bunch of settings to privatize my domain. turning off remote access is one of them.

    Another is fully disabling all updates. There is a cost to pay for this one, of course. A few fancy modern features don't work, but my machine is faster and safer because of it. I know Microsoft would have us believe our machines are safer WITH all the latest updates but that's a big fat lie. They assure us ( well, Gates does )... that vaccinations make our kids safer too.... get my drift?

    There was a peak in the ratio between functionality of our computers and freedom of control over our computers. I'm very sad to say that peak is well past. Probably about 2001-2 ish when XP service pack 2 came out. Since then, it's been down hill all the way.

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    Quote Originally posted by norman View Post
    Every time I instal a fresh start with windows I do a bunch of settings to privatize my domain. turning off remote access is one of them.

    Another is fully disabling all updates. There is a cost to pay for this one, of course. A few fancy modern features don't work, but my machine is faster and safer because of it. I know Microsoft would have us believe our machines are safer WITH all the latest updates but that's a big fat lie. They assure us ( well, Gates does )... that vaccinations make our kids safer too.... get my drift?

    There was a peak in the ratio between functionality of our computers and freedom of control over our computers. I'm very sad to say that peak is well past. Probably about 2001-2 ish when XP service pack 2 came out. Since then, it's been down hill all the way.
    I have gone even further & moved to ubuntu, its way faster, next time I buy a computer I am buying one with linux on instead of windows then I will not be paying for Gates's genocidal programs.

    (You can install unbuntu on a windows machine by creating a "dual boot" system, easiest way is to reduce the space window occupies on the HDD & then installing ubuntu od a DVD )

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    Quote Originally posted by Spiral View Post
    I have gone even further & moved to ubuntu, its way faster, next time I buy a computer I am buying one with linux on instead of windows then I will not be paying for Gates's genocidal programs.

    (You can install unbuntu on a windows machine by creating a "dual boot" system, easiest way is to reduce the space window occupies on the HDD & then installing ubuntu od a DVD )
    My productivity would fall through the floor if I switched to Linux. All my audio apps, which I've spent years learning to use efficiently, are windows based. My main audio editor is a bit old now but I'm regularly assured by other audio people on the net that there is still nothing for linux that comes close to it's functionality and ease of use.

    I do like the idea of a separate project PC built up as a linux system. I keep putting off actually starting it though. One thing is the huge choice of Linux distros to pick one from. I used to torrent download linux distros and burn them to disc. I have several. I just never got around to doing anything about it.

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    thank you for this information spiral will I be able to purchase ubunto and install in uk?gardener x

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    For anyone thinking about migrating to Linux, it can be a bit of a steep learning curve at first. But it will give you a little more security. I have a dual-boot system that I seldom use because the only version of Ubuntu that would fit onto its antiquated RAM was an outdated one with a bug in the core update program. That said, if you have essential programs under Windows, look into the possibility of running the same under WINE (WINdows Emulator).

    Another possibility to watch (it hasn't made it to the official release stage yet) is ReactOS, an open-source project based on the Windows NT design.

    As for using remote access, I have known about it for years (since before I had my own PC) and used it sometimes to help friends. As far as security is concerned I am much more concerned about the possibility (take a bow, Edward Snowden) that Windows has undocumented "backdoor" access points which are known to the initiates of the alphabet-soup agencies.

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    Thanks Twirly, when I saw this yesterday, I immediately leapt to my comp. But my dear trusty IT man had already set it to no remote access.

    A timely reminder though. I will send a message to all my clients. Thanks.

    Sooz

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