How do I secure "remote desktop"?

[ToddAndMargo]

Hi All,

I have a customer with a vendor that wants to have me do a port
forward on my router so he can do a "remote desktop" connection
to a Windows XP, SP2 computer. The verndor's IP floats.
No problem with the port forward. But..

I got to thinking, this leaves that workstation open for port probes
from the Internet.

I will be installing a "severe" password on the workstation before
putting the port forward in place. I am still not comfortable with
this. Is there something more I should be doing to secure
remote desktop? Am I just being paranoid?

Many thanks,
-T

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have a customer with a vendor that wants to have me do a port
forward on my router so he can do a "remote desktop" connection
to a Windows XP, SP2 computer. The verndor's IP floats.
No problem with the port forward. But..

I got to thinking, this leaves that workstation open for port probes
from the Internet.

I will be installing a "severe" password on the workstation before
putting the port forward in place. I am still not comfortable with
this. Is there something more I should be doing to secure
remote desktop? Am I just being paranoid?

Somewhat paranoid - but - you could setup a VPN tunnel.