When you connect to a host, you see a prompt for a user name and password, both of which you choose when you first set up the host. You can select an existing Windows log-in, but you can't have a blank password. Also, though you can configure a host to set up an encrypted session every time or to switch to encryption during remote control, encryption isn't enabled by default.

pcAnywhere could prove effective for people who want to remotely manage many PCs in the same network, and it's a definite option for large networks with their own IT staff. But it's probably not the best package for connecting to one or two PCs at home or at work across the Internet, as it requires you to open a connection through your home or company firewall directly to the host. Business networks with many pcAnywhere hosts can set up a gateway server (at additional cost) that can act as an intermediary.

GOTOMYPC

While pcAnywhere is best for connecting to multiple PCs in the same network, the Citrix GoToMyPC service lets you easily connect to a host PC from just about anywhere. But you'll pay for the freedom, as GoToMyPC carries a monthly fee of $20 for one PC or $30 for two, with discounts for annual plans and additional PCs.

After performing a quick software install on a host PC, you can access that computer's desktop from most any other machine with a browser and an Internet connection. Though the software to set up a host requires that the host have at least Windows 2000 or a newer version of Windows, you can connect to that host from a Mac or Linux system, or even some Windows Mobile devices. Also, the host software makes its own connection to Citrix servers, so you don't need to open any firewalls or make any other adjustments. Just point your Java-enabled browser, on whatever PC or device you're using, to log in to your account at gotomypc.com.

Once there you'll see a list of your connected PCs. Choose one and enter its password (each PC gets its own), and a small Java client downloads through the browser and provides full remote control of the host. If you're using a PC that limits which programs you can run, such as a work computer with a strict security policy, you can use a universal viewer that runs completely within the browser. Mac and Linux computers also use the universal viewer.