The ability to access files and information on your computer over the Internet is useful for work and play, as well as being just plain impressive in a geeky kind of way. Several technologies are available to enable this kind of access. They range from from the shared file system built into most versions of Windows up to the proprietary systems developed for such software packages.

GoToMyPC is for individuals needing remote desktop access to 1-20 PCs. It's an easy and secure remote-access solution that enables you to conveniently access email, files, programs and network resources from home or the road. Get unlimited access to your PCs from any Web browser anywhere.

You can remotely access any or all of your PCs from any other computer with an Internet connection and Web browser. You can access your email, applications, documents and network resources from your primary, or host, PC - just as if you were sitting in front of it. You have full and complete access to everything on all of your PCs from anywhere. And because using GoToMyPC is just like being there, there is no compromise on speed or functionality for Web or non-Web applications.

What exactly is a remote desktop? Well, the idea of remote desktop software is to enable you to operate your home computer as if you were seated in front of it, from a remote, internet-enabled computer.

While RemoteAccess never included internal telnet support, it can be run as a telnet BBS by using a telnet-FOSSIL driver such as NetFoss, or a Virtual COM port engine such as NetSerial under Windows, or using SIO/VMODEM under OS/2).

A method to access your work computer or company network from a remote location or computer. Remote access can be possible using dial-up access, Broadband access or wireless access. Laptop computers, PDAs and Smartphones can be used to take advantage of remote access. Remote access solutions can be Internet-based or a software program.

Development and tuning of remote access software has been ongoing for many years, and arguably the most well known (free) implementation of this is VNC , or Virtual Network Computing. VNC is a free multi-platform remote control package which enables you to view and interact with a remote computer. It will run on most known operating systems and requires very little computing power.