TeamViewer safety

[JetpackUser]

I want to get some help getting started with a complicated software package, and a person has offered to help me using teamviewer. Since my only earlier "experience" with this type of program was some random youtube recommended video where one hacker-type of person apparently went on to delete the files of a more malicous hacker-type of person, I guess this made me slightly conserned.

From my limited contact with the person who has offered to help me, he seems like a decent and trustworthy guy, so my hunch is this is nothing to be conserned about. 

But I want to be safe, so I ask: what are the risks involved with using teamviewer for this? As I understand it, teamviewer basically lets another person take control of my PC's mouse and keyboard, and I will be able to see whatever inputs are applied on my screen in real time. Correct? So if the remote user changes applications, starts downloading / installing / command prompting / whatever, I would see it immediately, and could just pull my internet cable. Or? The googling I did on the topic seemed to be more concerned with the possibility of a third party gaining access to a computer, which I guess is unlikely in this scenario.
 

[Lipe123]

Team viewer has 2FA, use it to prevent unauthorized access. Also it has a portable version called "teamviewer quicksupport" its kinda hidden on their page but that one installs nothing on your computer and when you close it its over - no more access.

 

Secondly you can press esc at any time almost to cancel the control of the person helping you but the risk you want to mitigate here is impossible. The real question is, would you allow this person to come sit at your computer and help you irl? Because teamviewer gives them almost the exact same level of access and if they wanted to do something malicious they totally could. All it takes is one batch file or something similar copied to your system and a doubleclick, before you can even cancel the session the process is already under way.

What you could do to help a little is to create a second standard user account on your computer which at least then will promt for the admin password when anything "dangerous" is happening.

[JetpackUser]

Well, if I see that he opens a web browser and starts downloading and launching something shady I will be able to disconnect / unplug and purge the whole system. I guess the worst possible outcome here is he manages to install some sort of keylogger or backdoor access  route without me noticing, getting access to my bank etc. Probably mouse and keyboard inputs can be automated to do this lightning fast?

 

I reallize this is very unlikely and I would let this person help me out irl. But I want to get a clear picture of what are the risks of using teamviewer nonetheless.

 

A secondary regular user account sounds like a good idea.