What is Remote Assistance
Remote Assistance is a program in Windows that allows a user to connect to another user's computer and communicate with that user, share files, and take control of the user's computer if given permission. Remote Assistance is most widely used by computer technicians because it allows them to access a customer's computer and fix problems without having to actually visit the customer in person. This is exceptionally good for computer repair stores that take customers abroad as it can potentially save the customer the hassle of shipping the computer to the technician or the technician having to travel to the customer. While Remote Assistance does not allow users to fix all problems remotely, users are able to fix virtually all software-related issues and show customers and friends how to perform certain tasks whether they are in the same city or halfway around the world.

Using Remote Assistance
Remote Assistance is a rather straightforward software and is extremely easy to use. Users will need to start by downloading, installing, and running Windows Messenger or Windows Live Messenger in order to use the software. In Windows Live Messenger, users can find Remote Assistance through the "Activities" tab found at the top of the page when having a conversation with any user. Remote Assistance opens in its own user interface and allows users to keep IM and voice communications open while using the application. Remote Assistance allows users to toggle between several options that range between seeing one user's screen and actually controlling that user's screen. While the controlling user is able to control the receiving user's mouse, files, settings, and programs within the Remote Assistance window, everything outside of the window will belong exclusively to the controlling user and cannot be controlled or seen by the receiving user. Users should be careful about who they allow to control their computer as it can be rather difficult to forcefully end a Remote Assistance session, the only concrete method being to actually unplug the receiving computer so that the Remote Assistance connection is broken immediately.How To Use Remote Assistancef

Virus Protection
A common use of Remote Assistance is virus protection. Virus protection in Remote Assistance works in the same way that normal virus protection works but instead of applying it directly to the host computer, the controlling user downloads an antivirus program through the receiving user's browser and installs it on their computer. The program can then be used and manipulated in any way that it could otherwise be used but is controlled remotely by the controlling user. Control can then be returned to the receiving user once he/she has been shown how to operate the software. Common antivirus programs include Spyware Terminator, Malwarebytes' Antimalware, and Spybot Search and Destroy.

For those users who wish to enjoy the benefits of Remote Assistance without using this specific software, the following programs are available.

Team Viewer
TeamViewer is a free program that allows users to share pictures and other media files, control remote computers and servers, and host presentations and meetings by sharing access to a host computer. TeamViewer can bypass firewalls and ships as a small application that can be used by either user to share access to his/her computer or control another user's computer. TeamViewer is available at http://www.teamviewer.com/index.aspx .

ShowMyPC
ShowMyPC is a free, open source, community-based VNC application that uses an SSH protocol to provide data encryption and reliability. ShowMyPC allows remote users to access a computer with a temporary password that is provided to the receiving user. This password is then given to the remote user in order to create a secure connection between the two computers and allow the remote user to access the recipient user's computer. ShowMyPC is available at http://www.showmypc.com/ .