Have you ever encountered a problem on your PC and asked someone for help? And even after being guided you can’t solve the problem yourself? Now there’s another option, Remote Assistance. Now you can give someone access to your computer, so they can work on your system to fix the problem. You can help someone in the same way too. So even if an expert or knowledgeable friend is far away, he can still help you out.


Remote Assistance is a built-in feature in Windows XP which allows you to access and take control of someone else’s computer (also running Windows XP) provided you have the permissions. This feature is a great tool to use and is very useful to resolve for technical issues or complete certain tasks. Remote access can be of help in other scenarios like sharing your computer with someone to view documents, working together or perhaps walking a newbie through a software.


Remote Assistance can be used as long as your computer is a condition to boot up, and has access to the Internet. Although a broadband connection is favorable, a dial-up will do the job too. You may communicate with your “virtual helper” using IM or voice chat which is packed in the Remote Assistance tool. The process is initiated by sending out an invitation called a Remote Assistance Request.


But while is feature is very handy it should be used discreetly. Remember that when you allow access, you are effectively giving control of your system. The remote user (your helper) will have access to the same resources as you do. When someone connects to your computer remotely, that person can view your desktop and any open files on your computer. Also, if you allow mouse and keyboard access, your helper can do anything to your computer like deleting files, changing settings and even view confidential data.


Remote Assistance has revolutionized the way technical support helpdesks operate.

The risks of unauthorized access, information leakage and malicious files entering a network in an organizational setup are even higher. Although Microsoft has incorporated some safety features like password protection and a time-out period for each session, you should be cautious at an individual level.


Follow these safety tips during each session:

  • Only give access to people you know or trust. Maintain extra vigil if you employ people from other sources and make sure you have a written contract. Also ensure that you close any open documents on your PC which you don’t want your helper to see.
  • Never open a Remote Assistance request before you are 100% sure about where it came from.
  • Don’t send a Remote Assistance invitation without a password and also make sure you use a strong password.
  • Reduce the invitation time limit to a bare minimum so that the chances of exploitation are less.
  • Discuss your system issues with your helper before inviting him to help and see whether he can diagnose what might be wrong. Agree only if you think that person is trustworthy and tells you what you can expect.
  • Be attentive at all times and observe what he is doing. At any point if you feel that your computer is being misused any suspicious activity, tell him to stop or disable access immediately. Take full control of your system and if required unplug any peripherals which might cause threat.
  • Always make sure to scan your computer with anti-virus program to be sure that nothing inappropriate has been done to your system. 

Avail Remote Assistance for troubleshooting issues but make sure you learn about the risks involved and take security measures to be safe. Take advantage of this useful feature but don’t let anyone take advantage of you!