[TeamViewer] Enable/Disable remote control from local pc

[NickThissen]

Hi,

There is a computer in our lab that controls a plasma reactor. It is running an application that allows us to open/close valves, start/stop the plasma, and measure stuff in the reactor. I am using TeamViewer to connect remotely to this lab PC from my local laptop, so I can view its progress without physically being in the lab all the time.

The problem is: by default, TeamViewer gives me full control over the remote pc. I can control the mouse and keyboard of the lab pc from here. This will sometimes come in really handy, if I ever have to quickly change a setting, but most of the time I do not want this at all. If I accidently click in the TeamViewer window and open a valve, I could ruin the measurement, or even blow up part of the reactor... Not good

So, what I want to do is DISABLE full control from my local laptop, unless I explicitly tell my PC that I am willingly going to control the pc. In short: I want to prevent myself from accidentally controlling the remote PC, while still being able to control it if I really want to. Basically, for once, I do want a "Are you sure?" message box, or even a "Are you REALLY sure?" message box...


I cannot find any setting that allows me to do this... I know I can set the host pc (the lab pc) to 'presentation' mode, so that I can only view it and not control it, but as far as I know I have no way (remotely, on my laptop) to switch it back to full control, which makes sense I suppose

But the other way around shouldn't be a problem? If the lab pc is set to full control, I should be able to choose not being able to control it remotely, if only sometimes?

Is this possible..? Thanks!

[Hack]

I don't know who makes this TeamViewer thingy you are using, but this is really a question that you should ask them.

[NickThissen]

Perhaps. I just thought there might be a few users around here, and I think this is a feature that more people would use, and it's nearly weekend (well, it is for me) so I thought I would be better off asking here instead of having to wait 4 days for an answer from them

[Siddharth Rout]

I frequently use VNC instead of Teamviewer... Like VNC even Teamviewer has an option of setting passwords before you can actually get full control over remote pc...

Read more on Teamviewer Password Protection here...

Hope this helps...

[NickThissen]

As far as I understand, it has a password to even connect in the first place. Without the password I cannot even view the remote desktop, let alone control it.

I am viewing it, of course I have the password (as I just set it myself on the lab pc) so I do have full control over the lab pc now, remotely. But I want to be able to switch between full control and viewing only, remotely (not on the lab pc), and that does not seem possible.

[Siddharth Rout]

As far as I understand, it has a password to even connect in the first place.

Not necessarily. You can opt not to set a password same as VNC.

However I am not sure about able to switch between full control and viewing.

Also if you see the pdf file, you will see an email address where you can forward your request?

[TheBigB]

Connect; you get this pop-up on the remote screen.
There is a little mouse icon in that pop-up.
When you click it, it disables your input and when you reconnect, you have full control again.
Not the prettiest solution, but it works

[baja_yu]

But it only works if there is someone on the remote side. If he is doing this by himself, then it's a problem.

[TheBigB]

No, you can can control the pop-up remotely.

[baja_yu]

Just checked some settings in TeamViewer 5 I have installed. Try this, open TV5, go to menu Extras > Options >> Security. There, under 'Rules for connections to this computer' > 'Access Control, choose "Custom settings", and click Configure. There, set View Screen to Allowed, Partner can control Local Teamviewer to allowed and Remote control to After confirmation, all else can be Disabled. Of course, do all this on the remote side (at the lab).

That should allow only viewing by default at the start of the connection, but should also allow you to engage remote control.

[NickThissen]

Cool, I'll try that tomorrow, thanks!

[NickThissen]

Just checked some settings in TeamViewer 5 I have installed. Try this, open TV5, go to menu Extras > Options >> Security. There, under 'Rules for connections to this computer' > 'Access Control, choose "Custom settings", and click Configure. There, set View Screen to Allowed, Partner can control Local Teamviewer to allowed and Remote control to After confirmation, all else can be Disabled. Of course, do all this on the remote side (at the lab).

That should allow only viewing by default at the start of the connection, but should also allow you to engage remote control.

Well I tried this, but it's no use because there has to be a user at the lab to confirm my request for taking control. There won't be anyone at the lab computer, so I have to be able to 'take' control remotely. For that to work of course I would have to have control in the first place, and disable it then (otherwise this could be used to take control when the other user doesn't want that)...

[Siddharth Rout]

Nick, did you send an email to that address?