How safe is remote desktop connection? 1

[seaport]

Does remote desktop connection has application-layer encryption?

In a wireless network with no encryption, my data sent over the https is still safe because the https protocol encrypted data.

I wonder whether the RDC can do the same thing?

1. Are my user name and password accessing the remote PC encypted? I think they are. Otherwise nobody should use RDC.

2. When I transfer a file between my computer and the remote PC, is that file encrypted?

Thanks in advance.

Seaport

 

[karlisi]

Features
* 128-bit encryption, using the RC4 encryption algorithm (...)
* Transport Layer Security support.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_Desktop_Protocol#Features

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_Services

===
Karlis
ECDL; MCSA

 

[seaport]

Thanks for the those links.

Right now I am using RDC 6.0, which is Transport Layer Security 6.1 supported.

So, here are answers to my questions after reading the two wiki articles.

1. All traffics between the local PC and remote desktop via RDC are encrypted.

2. The encryption is at least as strong as SSL, because SSL is the predecessor of Transport Layer Security (TLS).

Conclusion - RDC connection is as safe as most secured web sites on the web.

Am I right?

Seaport

 

[linney]

You are right in your assumptions, but nothing created by humans is ever 100% safe is it?

All I can say it is not a matter that has been aired much in this forum, or any other forums that I visit.

Some further reading if you are interested.

http://www.google.com/search?q=How+safe+is+remote+desktop+connection&rls=com.microsoft:

 

[linney]

One thing that is of some concern is this subject concerning some of the settings you may choose under the "Local Resources" tab of Remote Desktop.

"You may get this warning about the
access from the Remote computer to
your local devices"

How to use remote Desktop Access in Windows XP

http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/wxprmdtp.html

Securing Remote Desktop

http://www.mobydisk.com/techres/securing_remote_desktop.html

 

[seaport]

linney, Thanks.

The mobydisk.com article is great.

Seaport