Microsoft Windows has an extremely useful feature called Quick Assist (or Remote Assistance depending on your Windows version) which allows someone else to temporarily take control of your PC over the Internet in order to fix a problem for you.
Quick Assist and Remote Assistance have helped countless PC users get their computer issues resolved quickly and efficiently without having to send their PCs back to the manufacturer or haul them to a repair shop.
Unfortunately, hackers can also use the feature to take control of computers located half-way around the world in order to install malware and steal personal information such as credit card or bank account numbers.
I recommend that you disable Quick Assist or Remote Assistance until you actually need to allow a remote technician to use it to help you solve a problem.
Follow these steps to disable Quick Assist / Remote Assistance on your PC (skip to the section that’s relevant to your Windows version):
Windows 10…
1 – Press the Windows+S key combination to open a Search box.
2 – Type system into the Search box, then select System from the list of search results.
3 – Click the Remote settings link in the left-hand column.
4 – Uncheck the box beside Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer.
5 – Click Apply, then click OK.
Windows 8/8.1…
1 – Press the Windows+C keyboard combination to open the Charms Bar.
2 – Under Settings, click on Control Panel.
3 – Click System and Security.
4 – Click Allow Remote Access. (I know this sounds like the exact opposite of what you want to do, but bear with me…)
5 – Uncheck the box beside Allow remote assistance connections to this computer.
6 – Click Apply, then click Ok.
Windows 7…
1 – Right-click on the Computer icon on your Desktop and then click Properties.
2 – Click Advanced system settings.
3 – Click the Remote tab.
4 – Uncheck the box beside Allow remote assistance connections to this computer.
5 – Click Ok.
That’s all there is to it. Now hackers won’t be able to remotely log into your Windows PC and take control of it.
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An elderly couple I know have fallen prey to a scam where they were told they had a virus and they let the hackers get in using remote assistance to their computer. So after disabling this, can They use the computer as they normally do? How do I know if the hackers have installed anything on their computer? Could you please let me know I can help them
All you can do is run a series of thorough malware scans on the PC, Jenn. This post details the procedure that I use:
https://www.ricksdailytips.com/how-to-rid-your-pc-of-malware/
And just for good measure, you can also run these on-demand anti-malware scans as well:
https://www.ricksdailytips.com/get-a-second-opinion-for-malware-scans/
I hope this helps, Jenn. Good luck!
My neighbor across the street has been remotely accessing our home security cameras. How do we stop this?
Niki, here is an excellent CNET article that discusses this very issue:
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-prevent-your-security-camera-from-being-hacked/