Get on Your Computer From Home. Safe & Secure

Need to get on your computer at home from a friends house? Want to check on the kids from work?

This is how you can safely and securely get on to your home computer from anywhere that has the internets.

Required:
1. Broadband Internet
2. An ISP that allows hosting of SSH servers
3. FreeSSHD (Free)
4. RealVNC (Free)
5. PUTTY (Free)

Step 1: Install FreeSSH Server

In order to access your computer you need to install freeSSHD. This program creates a server that allows you to make an SSH connection to your home machine. The connections is encrypted which makes it very secure but can slow down the connection, especially if you have slower internet.

SSH is a protocol that allows you to get a command prompt remotely. It will be identical to "cmd.exe".

To install it you need to download it from the website: freesshd.com. You will need to have administrative rights on the machine. This is for windows machines, there are similar apps for Mac.

Look at the picture below for information on setting up the server.

Step 2: Forward the Ports on Your Router

You need to forward the ports on your router to be able to connect to your computer remotely.

Goto http://portforward.com/english/applications/port_forwarding/SSH/SSHindex.htm and find your router make/model and follow the instructions.

If you don't have a router or your computer is in the "DMZ" then you can skip this step.

Step 3: Test the SSH Server.

Get your copy of PuTTy or your favorite SSH tool ready.

Download it from PuTTy.nl

you only need the PuTTy application disregard the other applications.

1. Open PuTTy

2. Go to "whatismyip.com" and right it down on a piece of paper.

3. In PuTTy type in your IP address.

4. Click "Open"

5. Type in your username followed by the password.

6. If you see a command prompt then you did it right.

Step 4: Download and Install RealVNC

You need to download and install RealVNC. You don't have to use RealVNC but its the one i like the most.

http://www.realVNC.com and download the Free Version of the Viewer and Server (it should be a package deal).

Make sure that the server runs as a service.

Right-click the icon in the task bar. Select Options

On the Authentication Tab > Make sure that "no authentication" is selected, and "prompt use to connect" is not checked.

On the Connections Tab > Make sure "accept connections on port: 5900" is selected, and check "accept connections from local machine only"

Step 5: Test RealVNC.

The only way to test realVNC is to do it from a diffrent computer.

If you do it from the same computer you will get an infinite loop of your desktop which can cause problems.

Follow the same steps you used in step 3 to test the SSH server, except this time you need to add one thing before you hit "open"

1. Open SSH and Insert IP address

2. In the left column click SSH and expand it

3. Select Tunnel

4. In the Source Port type 5900

5. in the Destination type 127.0.0.1:5900

6. Click Add

7. Click Open

8. Enter Your Password

9. Open the VNC Viewer

10. For the server type: 127.0.0.1:5900

Note: You MUST NOT have VNC server open on the computer your testing this from otherwise VNC Viewer will connect to the computer your testing this from.

11. Click Ok

12. If you see the other computer then you've done this right.

Step 6: Tips

I suggest putting a copy of PuTTy and RealVNC Viewer on a flash drive. This way you can save it and take it anywhere.

Also in putty you can save a profile of all your settings so as long as your ip address doesn't change you won't have to set it up everytime.

If you have a dynamic IP address you might want to check out DynDns.com