Remote Desktop Privacy: What Can the Other Person See and Do?
Letting someone into your computer is an act of trust. This guide explains in plain words what they can see and do, what they cannot, and how to stay in control.
"Share your screen." "Let me take control." Those phrases are casual, but what they mean is serious: you are letting another person look at your private computer, and perhaps touch it. Whether the person is a colleague, a relative or a support technician, you deserve to know exactly what they can see, what they can do and how you stay in charge.
Three levels of access
Seeing. The other person watches your screen. They see what you see: windows, documents, notifications, the cursor. They cannot click or type.
Controlling. The other person can move the mouse and press keys, as though they were sitting in front of your computer. This only happens after you allow it.
Reaching into files. Beyond the screen, a remote tool might let someone send or fetch files. In PeerFlow, file swaps are part of the session and happen only in the session that you have opened.
You can always limit things to the first level. Control and files are extra.
What they can see
If you share your entire screen, they see everything on it. That includes the desktop, open documents, browser tabs, chat windows and any notification that pops up. Before you start a session:
- Close private documents and tabs.
- Turn on "do not disturb", so messages do not pop up.
- Hide or lock your password manager.
- Check what is on the desktop behind your windows.
With a PeerFlow remote session, you choose what you share, and the other person sees only that.
What they can do when you allow control
With control allowed, the other person can open programs, change settings, move files and type. That is a lot of power, so give it only to someone you trust and only for as long as needed. Windows blocks remote input into its lock screen and into programs that run as administrator, which is a built-in safeguard. You can also watch what they do, since their pointer moves on your screen.
What they cannot do
- They cannot connect without your code. The short code is created on your device for one session.
- They cannot control your computer if you have not allowed it.
- They cannot stay connected after you end the session. Once it ends, the code stops working.
- They cannot read your files from outside the session.
Staying in charge
A visible badge on your screen shows that someone is connected and whether they can control your computer. It has buttons to stop control or end the session, and they work at any moment. Practise using them once, so you know where they are when you need them. Ending a session is never rude. If something feels wrong, stop it first and ask questions afterwards.
Common-sense rules
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Someone you did not contact asks for a code | Refuse and end the call |
| You are not sure what they are doing | Stop control, ask them to explain |
| The session is over | End it, check nothing is left open |
| You shared sensitive documents | Change relevant passwords afterwards |
| You are in a public place | Be careful of what is on screen and who sees it |
Recording and screenshots
Either side of a session can take a screenshot or record, depending on the tools. In PeerFlow, recordings and screenshots are saved on the device of the person who made them, in the PeerFlow folder. Ask before you start whether anyone will record, and say so openly if you do. For work with clients, see the remote IT support checklist.
Why direct connections help
In PeerFlow the screen travels straight from your computer to the other person's, encrypted, and the server only introduces the two. There is no central place where your screen is stored. Read the security overview to learn how the connection is protected.
After the session
Close the app if you do not need it, review what was changed, and keep a note of what happened. If you shared anything sensitive, consider updating those passwords. Learn how to spot scams in is remote desktop safe?. Download the Windows and Android apps to see the badge and the controls for yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Can the other person see everything on my computer?
They see what is shown on the screen you share. If you share the whole screen they see every open window, including notifications, so close private items first.
Can they control my computer without asking?
No. Control is a separate permission that you give, and you can switch it off while the session is running.
How do I stop a session?
Press Stop control to take back the mouse and keyboard, or end the session to disconnect completely. A badge on your screen shows who is connected.
Does PeerFlow record my session?
Not unless someone in the session chooses to record, and the person who records saves the video on their own device. Ask before the session starts whether anyone will record.