Sunday, February 22, 2015

Remote PC Assistance Software Features You Need

By Olivia Cross


Sometimes it seems like anyone who obtains even a little bit of computer knowledge has some sort of unwritten obligation to help everyone he knows with their computers. Like most of these users, you've probably found yourself being asked to fix a friend's computer, and perhaps even multiple times. That sometimes means repeated trips to that home to gain access to their system. You can avoid all of that complexity by using one of the various remote PC assistance offerings on the market today.

Naturally, you may not need any software if the only time anyone ever asks for help is when you happen to be in the vicinity of the problem computer. Still, when you're being called to help friends and family on a regular basis, chances are that you'd benefit from being able to remotely access their system without ever leaving your own house. Before obtaining software to make that possible, however, you need to understand the key features involved.

The first thing to consider is price. Now, there are some fine paid options out there, and some of them have a variety of additional features that are perfect for professional technicians who earn their living troubleshooting problems. For casual troubleshooters, however, free is always best. There are a variety of these free options out there, including the built-in Windows software.

Ease of installation is critical as well. After all, when you're helping someone with little knowledge of computers, there's a good chance that person may struggle if he or she has to download or otherwise install new software. Where installation is concerned, the simpler it is, the better. Alternatively, you can always set up off-site access in advance if you anticipate the need for this type of troubleshooting.

With the Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems all in use, software needs to be able to connect computers that have different operating structures. Windows remains the choice of most business and personal users, but it is still helpful to have that kind of cross-platform connectivity available.

There are also software options that enable the creation of permanent portals. Those allow you to access the other user's system at any time, which can be a real asset if you're helping someone who can't ever remember to run his own maintenance. It's not a necessity, obviously, but can be useful in those extreme cases.

Temporary portals with strong security measures are usually preferable though. Many casual computer users have some serious reservations about security, imagining that any outside access could pose a threat to their system. They see it as a potential security breach, and thus prefer temporary access so that they can see what is being done. Obviously, you want to help them feel that their systems are safe and secure.

So, if you're the type who likes being called over to fix other people's computers whenever something goes wrong, then you probably already have everything you need. To free yourself from those travel requirements, however, choose a good off-site access program to handle those pesky troubleshooting tasks.




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