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I'm looking for two ways to remote control the GUI of a Windows 10 computer.

First, I need a way to access a computer invisibly while someone is at the keyboard. For example, someone says "hey, I need VLC installed" while using the computer, I'd like to be able to log in remotely without disturbing the user and install VLC, just as I can ssh or X2Go into a linux machine without bumping off the user at the console. In the Linux world, this happens all the time.

Second, I need a way to help a user remotely by grabbing control of what they're doing, without the user initiating or responding. Sometimes getting the user to initiate or even to accept an invitation for remote assistance is too hard. I worked at a university where we did this all the time on our Macs with ARD.

I'd prefer both of these things to work in such a way that:

  • I can access Windows 10 machines
  • I can remote in from macOS and Linux
  • I can get in without opening another port in my firewall, such as by forwarding a port over ssh with the Linux server that I have at the remote site
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  • Explain the downvote, please?
    – aswine
    Oct 6, 2016 at 14:17
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    it's a privacy violation when you want to control a users computer without the user getting notified. In my opinion, this question sounds like "how can I make my life easier, while completely ignoring the principles of computer physics & privacy."
    – SimonS
    Oct 6, 2016 at 14:24
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    I read your question, as a question seeking software recomendation, which is not on topic here at Superuser. Your only answer, so far, is a software recomendation, and not a very good one. The single answer is right, you can install Teamviewer and while its not silent about the fact, you can use password prompt confirmation to avoid having to get the user to confirm the Teamviewer session.
    – Ramhound
    Oct 6, 2016 at 14:24
  • @SimonS When you use ssh, do all of the other users get notified? Is that a privacy violation? To clarify, I'm not interested in secrecy, I'm interested in not logging off the user.
    – aswine
    Oct 6, 2016 at 14:30
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    Expecting to be able to use a Windows feature, but connect to the Windows machines, from Linux and OSX is not realistic. Which is the reason I categorized your question as a software recomendation. How you remotely manage workstations is different from simply connecting to your machine remotely.
    – Ramhound
    Oct 6, 2016 at 15:26

2 Answers 2

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What you're asking is not possible with most remote control software packages available.

It is very bad practice to be able to control a pc without a users consent and users usually really dislike the idea of anyone being able to view their pc without their knowledge.

For that reason, most programs will have some form of protection against "taking over a pc, or notifying the user in one way or the other"

Now, given that Software recommendations is Off-topic here at SuperUser, I'm not going to tell you which options are available.

But you should know that there are IT-Corporate software available made to manage 1000 workstations at once. They collect information, send it to a general server, and through them, you can usually remote control and/or do things without the user knowing. For this to work, you need to install an agent first, but all is done through a website so managing works on most if not all Operating systems.

To get an idea, these are programs such as Kaseya, N-Able, etc. They cost a fortune too, but they are something you want to consider when you manage at least 500 pc's and need this kind of access. In any other case, the answer is simply: not possible.

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  • I would throw in SCCM (System Center and Configuration Manager) as well if the purpose is only "install stuff".
    – cdavid
    Oct 6, 2016 at 16:37
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It is very difficult to be able to remotly control without opening firewall ports. By default remote control ports are closed for security matters. If you are planning this on environment with Active Directory, you can easily open ports with a GPO.

On Windows 10 you have some free ways to control a computer without the interrupting the user:

  1. [Easy] - Using the console compmgmt.msc you can graphically do some configurations. The firewall exception GPO is the one at the beggining of this guide.
  2. [Medium] - Powershell: deploying a GPO to enable remote powershell (guide) you can run a remote session using Enter-PSSession $computer.
  3. [Hard] - WMI: deploying a GPO to enable the WMI expcetion on firewall (guide) and use the the wmic to access a remote node with the switch /node:hostname.

For taking over control, I really like DameWare. But it is expensive. If you are paying, LanSweeper is a nice tool for deployments and some actions.

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