Okay. Let's say that for the sake of argument, I wanted to touch my computer from the internet. I want to touch it in a polite way, meaning I want to talk to it via IP address and use a valid password to gain access to my computer from a remote site.
What all do I need to do to make this happen?
I assume that I first need the IP address of the ISP where the computer is located. Next, I assume I need the IP address of the actual computer wihtin the ISP's network. Next, I need my userid and password.
I know I have the last bit here since it is my machine, but how do I get the other stuff and am I missing stuff?
Since I realize that some of this stuff may be a bit heavy and I obviously do not want to start a "how to hack someone's machine" thread, I am asking that the real low level things be done via PM and the high level things as simple additions to this thread. I trust that the mods will help me keep this thread within the guidleines of the AUP.
Define 'gain access'. Command line? Access to files?
Also, what does your network topograhy look like. Are you running a router? A hub? Or is the computer directly connected to your modem?
Might i recommend ether No-ip.com or dynip.com
I use both for my home network, i have my router update the dynip host name and then no-ip is updated by a computer on my network.
By opening the ports on your router (For example FTP (21) and VNC (5900) ) and having a computer on your network act as a server you get a File share and Remote desktop capabilities from any internet enabled computer.
I sent you a PM
Ideally access to files only, but I am kinda comfy with DOS so a command line interface is okay if I know how to use Mac commands. Let's just leave it at files for now.
Computer to router to DSL.
Given my finances and what machines are available, I am kind of locked into the architecture I have. I could open a port on the computer, but adding machines to the network on that side is not an option right now.
What OS is the target computer (the one you want to access) running? You just need access to files, but would you like to see and control the desktop as well?
For desktop control - VNC server is available for X of course, as well as OS9, here's one source/instr. for the OS9 version. Alternatively there's Timbuktu (which includes file access as well), while it ain't free it's a firstclass solution.
For simple file access - IIRC, under OS9 you could also use AppleShare IP to access your files. Or how about ftp, there are several available ftp server proggies, some free.
To get to the computer, you set up port forwarding on your router (eg: have all external port 21 (ftp) traffic get sent the internal (local) IP of your ftp file server.)
Just curious, why did you use the term "hack in" when all you are really looking to do is access the computer remotely? That's not a hack at all, it's a very common and normal usage.
dan k
In the router you could setup the machine you want access to as the "DMZ" host. This basically means that when you navigate to your outside ip, it is going directly to that machine. You could also setup port forwarding to the machine you want just for the services you would be running (ie: if you goto xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:xxxx it would goto your inside ip 192.168.x.xxx:xxxx) If it's os X you could turn on FTP or any of the other file sharing protocols. (I generally leave FTP off unless I know I will need to use it,(aka going to be on a windows machine with no way to SSH) I generally prefer to do work over ssh as it is more secure. If you open SSH on the machine you want access to and have access to a unix terminal (putty on windows etc) you can use the SFTP command. Hope this helps and isn't too confusing, i'm sure someone can help elaborate more. If you don't have access to the config of your router, this gets much more complicated.
Unless its wireless, Its probably a switch, rather than a router, between the dsl and your computer. But lets pretend that you computer is connected directly to the dsl modem (that is actually your router). All you need is the external IP of that dsl router (google 'whats my IP'). Unfortunately, your ISP probably set it up not to accept any incomming requests, and have blocked all ports below 11000 (that was the case with my dsl). Open a browser and in the address field enter: 192.168.1.1 (most likely, this is the internal address of the dsl router, your switch should be transparent). This should load a login web page. (you may need to port scan your dsl to see what port this is on if its not on 80) Try googling the dsl router model and 'default password' for the login (or try admin / password1 -very common defaults). If your ISP didn't change the defaults (probable), you can log into the DSL router and alter the settings, poke through the firewall, and allow incomming requests. You'll need to know what ports the services you run use (eg ssh default port is 22, ftp is 21), then map a high but arbitrary external port to the internal port of your service. So, if you wanted to run sftp, set the DSL to map say external port 15333 to the internal port 22, then, from outside, you would:
sftp -oPort=15333 doug@{external-IP}
to get in.
X.4
eyez don no kno bettur.