Please help with Personal Password

knwpsk · 2021-12-16T17:39:05+00:00

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[edit] I want to connect from any of my PCs to any other PC, remotely, unattended. But I want it to require a password each time. "Easy Access" is too easy without a password.

I have already read dozens of articles and forum posts and they have not answered my question. Please explain?

Say I have two computers, both with Teamviewer 15 installed, both linked to my account. (Personal, not corporate)

I have "grant easy access" turned OFF. I have a "personal password" set on each PC in options/security.

My expectation is when I connect from one of these computers to the other, TV will require me to enter my Personal Password before giving me access. But this does NOT happen. Rather, TV connects automatically to the remote computer, with no password required, and I go directly to the windows login screen. My "personal password" is never used.

Why? What is the purpose of "personal password" if it doesn't do this?

[edit] With help from jt in the first comments below, we learned that on computer A, TV retains the personal password for access computer B. In computer A, "people and computers", select Computer B, select "properties", and I can delete that password, and then the first time I connect to Computer B it will ask me to enter my password. HOWEVER, after the first time, TV still retains that password in the popup dialog. That's not very secure.

My goal is to be able to connect from either of my computers to the other one, unassisted -- but the remote connection should require a password each time. "Easy Access" is too easy for my situation, I want more security.

Thanks for any help!

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jgt1942

OK "I think" I got it (**bleep** this was SUPER confusing)

On Computer A open TV

Click on Computers & Contacts

Right-click on Computer B and select Properties

Remove the password from the Password field

Click the OK button

Try to connect, you should get prompted for a PW

knwpsk

Hi Akiho,

I have just tested your idea and it's incorrect.

In Settings / Advanced / Connections to other computers,

I unchecked "Temporarily save connection passwords"

Then I connected from Computer A to Computer B.

Then I disconnected.

Then I connected again. TV did NOT ask me to re-enter a password, but pre-populated the password for me again.

I closed the remote connection, and I exited TV completely on Computer A.

Then I restarted TV.

Then I double-clicked Computer B and reconnected, again without entering a password.

**** I think this is a quite serious security gap and TV should escalate this immediately, please ***

knwpsk

Hey jt,

Thanks a bunch for trying this with me. This was partially helpful.

When I follow your instructions, and try to connect from Computer A to Computer B, now TV says "Please enter the password that is displayed on your partner's computer [Computer B]".

But it's very odd. The password that I tried, and worked, is my "personal password". I sure hope it's NOT something that actually DISPLAYS on Computer B -- that would be incredibly non-secure. I'm going to have to experiment and run back and forth between machines and check this.

Next problem: After I connect, then disconnect, then initiate a new connection... the password is REMEMBERED in that popup. Sortof defeats the point, right? (For clarity: if I now right-click B ... properties... that password is empty still. But when i try to connect to B, and I get the popup dialog to enter a password, it's already pre-populated with an obscured password, retained from the previous session.)

Finally, a side point: it's really odd that the way you require a password on B, is to delete the password from A. There should be an option on B to say, "Allow easy access, but require a password each time."

At this point I suspect that someone would say: "Well, you already logged in to TV on Computer A, with your password. So why isn't Easy Access secure enough for you?"

Answer: because this is reciprocal. I need to access Computer A remotely from Computer B, also. So I need to leave TV on, and logged in, all the time - in order to access either computer remotely from either direction. Easy Access is almost the right idea, but I just want the added security of requiring that "personal password" each time. If I accidentally left Computer A unlocked, I wouldn't want someone to be able to access Computer B also, without a password.

jgt1942

I also have a very hard time understanding just what the heck is going on within TV.

On my end, in the "Computers & Contacts" view (I don't know what else to call it), after I right-clicked on computer B (the remote PC) >> selected Properties >> blanked out the Password clicked on the OK button.

Now, I'm always prompted for a PW on computer A when attempting to access computer B.

I just attempted to include an image. Until I post the comment I have no idea if the attempt is successful. Gee whiz, the forum is another confusing area.

I don't know what we are doing differently. However, I may have goofed and left some step(s) out. I did not record my screen while doing the test, should have/could have. Oh well, possibly next time.

Because I find it so confusing I'm a bit gun-shy about making changes. I fear that if I goof I will be in computer **bleep** not knowing how to get back to the correct environment.

I'm currently trying to access my daughter-in-law's PC and I'm blocked and know not why. The TV documentation leaves a LOT to be desired!!!!

Edited comment >>>I just made the post and do not see the image I attempted to include.

jgt1942

Computer & Contacts Properties of Contact.png

Here is the image, I had to click the paperclip and then drill down to the image.

jgt1942

I just realized that the image I uploaded correctly shows that remote computer sign-in has a PW. Following is a corrected image.

Computer & Contacts Properties of Contact-2.png

knwpsk

JT,

My screen looks like your screenshot.

In that Properties dialog for Computer B, I deleted the password as you said, and closed the dialog.

Then in the same Computers & Contacts tab, I doubleclick Computer B to initiate a connection.

TV pops up the dialog asking for a password and I enter my "personal password" and it connects.

Then I disconnect.

Then I check the same properties dialog, and the password is still empty as it should be.

Then I doubleclick Computer B again. Again, it pops up the dialog asking for a password, BUT THIS TIME, the password is pre-populated (obscured) and all I have to do is click OK.

SO, even though I deleted the password in the Properties, TV is remembering the password across sessions.

I'm tempted to think this is just a BUG.

[edit] It seems if I EXIT teamviewer on Computer A completely, then start the app again, THEN (and only then) it forgets the password for computer B and makes me re-enter it, THE FIRST TIME. But on subsequent connections, it remembers the password again.

jgt1942

I agree (for whatever that is worth), since the PW is remembered it sounds like a bug to me. OR there is another option that we are not aware of.

I'm in the middle of computer **bleep** on another issue. When I can I will circle back, hopefully with more/better info.

jgt1942

Another thought. I would suggest that your latest test results are also a security risk. Let's say you are on the road, stop at a location where you use a public PC, that has TV installed, to access your remote system, you break the connection but leave TV running on the public PC. Joe **bleep** sees you leave, takes your seat. He sees that TV is still running and access your remote PC.

I'm just guessing that Joe would be able to access your remote PC based on your description. I have not tested this, nor do I plan to conduct a test. I have too much on my plate as it is. (Sorry....)

If it does pose a security risk, I'm sure that the TV developers would want to resolve the issue ASAP.

Akiho

Hi @jgt1942 and @knwpsk,

Thank you for your post and for supporting each other😊!

Since I found this thread, I'm happy to jump into the conversation!

As you mentioned that TeamViewer remembered the passwords after disconnecting the remote session, the TeamViewer setting of Temporary save connection passwords would be checked.

Could you check this setting by following procedures, please?

Click gear icon on the application ⚙> Go to Advanced>Under Advanced setting for connections to other computers> and Temporary save connection passwords

When the setting is checked, the TeamViewer application temporarily remembers the passwords.
Whereas, when it's unchecked, the TeamViewer won't remember the password, thus, you need to type the passwords for every single connection.

Additionally, when it comes to security, we recommend Grant Easy Access + 2FA on your TeamViewer account as the best security practice. For more information, feel free to check our knowledge base article - Best practices for secure unattended access.

If you use "grant easy access", it is tied to ONLY your account, but a password might be guessed by others.

Please note that security is not about being "easy" or using a harder method isn't always equate with being more secure.

Hope this would be helpful🍀

If you have further questions or concerns, please tell us in the Community.

Best regards,

Akiho

Hi @knwpsk,

Thank you for your response.

We have tested the functionality with multiple staff and devices, and cannot replicate the behavior.

Could you please check that the contact is saved twice on your Computers & Contacts list, and rules out grant easy access and saved passwords?

When you confirmed, please kindly sign out of your account and try the connection again.

Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Best regards,

Akiho

knwpsk

Thanks Akiho.

I went through all of my configs again.

I still see the "retained password" that I mentioned, but only when I disconnect and reconnect to the same machine quickly. If I wait a few minutes, it doesn't happen.

Also: I had to go through my contacts/machines list, and open the properties of each one, and delete the password manually. I don't see this documented anywhere, and I think it's quite dangerous that it exists in that spot and it's not documented. (?)

Akiho

Hi @knwpsk,

Thank you for taking the time to go through all of the configurations and replying to the message!

Would it be possible to use Grant Easy Access + 2FA on your TeamViewer account instead of using the password?

For more information regarding 2FA, feel free to check our knowledge article: How to configure the Two-Factor Authentication (Video tutorial)

This is the most secure and recommended way. If you decide to not try it, we are unable to assist any further.

Thank you very much for your understanding and I wish you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 🍀

Akiho

knwpsk

Hi Akiho,

No, I tried Easy Access, and this does not work for me.

The problem I have with EA is that once you log in to TV (whether you use 2FA or not), TV stays logged in indefinitely. If someone accesses any one of my computers, then they can access ALL of my computers, and TV does not ask for a password or 2FA any longer.

I want to be able to access any one of my computers from any other of my computers, remotely, but to require a password (and/or 2FA code) every time. EA does not seem to support this.

Akiho

Hi @knwpsk,

Thank you for your response✨

Considering your problem, 2FA for connections would be helpful!

By enabling this feature, you can receive notifications on a mobile device before remote sessions.

Therefore, you can allow or deny a remote connection via pushing notifications on a mobile device.

For more information, kindly check our knowledge article: 📖Two-factor authentication for connections

Hope you find this helpful🍀

Best regards,

Akiho

jgt1942

I'm making a wild guess here. When computer A uses TV to access Computer B you want to be prompted for a PW. Is this correct?

**Bleep**!!!!

I managed to get what I think you wanted, then I attempted to revert back to my original settings and cannot. As you have, I went through a LOT of documentation, and often I could not follow the thought process being described and could not sync the documentation to what I was seeing in TeamViewer. I became totally lost and confused.

Now on the remote I get prompted to approve the connection and cannot determine how to omit the darn prompt.

VisRitty

Here some info about Two Factor Authentication for connections as suggested by Akiho:

If you want to use Two Factor Authentication for connections you have to go to each computer to scan the QR-code Which could be a lot of work. Still you can use teamviewer to "go" to the computer and scan the QR code but you have to do it one by one.

But when TFA for connections is active and your old authentication device is not accesible anymore you cannot even use TeamViewer anymore to "go" to any device. So in that case you are Stuck. Enabling a second device from the beginning is the prefered solution as told by Teamviewer Service team, But who is carrying two devices all the time. This is a big BUG 😥

The simpliest and only solution is to build some sort of management possibilitys for TFA for connections. In the management console or somewhere else.

Please contact Service team to ask a feature request about this problem! ("Use management console to maintain TFA for connections")

Told by the Service TEAM: (As our Feature Request grows, the developers will dedicate more time to bringing it to fruition)