Option 3: Access Files Directly through the Browser
Online backup services, discussed above, will copy files to their own servers before you can access them for anywhere else. Screen sharing services are often slow and they won’t work on most mobile devices. Let’s now explore another set of services that allow you download files directly from the home computer.
Copernic, like Google Desktop, is a popular desktop search software that you may use to find emails, documents and other files on your Windows computer. They have a paid component called myCopernic on the Go that lets you remotely search for content stored on the home or office computer. You can preview the search results and then download them to your mobile phone or remote PC.
With Opera Unite, you can easily turn your computer into a web server and instantly access files and folders on that computer from any other web browser (including that of mobile phones). Opera Unite is a standard web server and therefore you’ll be downloading files directly from the computer – they’re not uploaded anywhere else.
Another option is GBridge that lets you setup a virtual private network using your existing Google Account. Companies use VPNs to let employees access corporate data over a public network (Internet) and with GBridge, even home users can build their own VPNs to access remote files more securely.
Windows Live Sync at sync.live.com is another great choice for remotely accessing files over the Internet. Just install the Live Sync client on your computer and you can then access the entire hard drive of that computer simply through the Windows Live Sync website.
Live Sync is available for both Mac and Windows. The new version of Live Sync is even better and it has integrated online storage (Live Mesh) so you’ll be able to access your important file even if the remote computer is off.
Finally, you may also want to check out HomePipe – this is an extremely easy and free service that lets you access your home files and media from any other computer or mobile phone. Install the HomePipe Agent and all files on that computer will instantly become available through the web. They also have apps for iPhone and Android phones.
Option 4: Share Files with a NAS (Network Attached Storage) Device
If you don't need to remotely control or manage your home computer and just want to be able to access shared files over the Internet, you can use a NAS device (a.k.a. NAS box) to do so. These storage devices are mini file servers that you connect to your home network, usually via Ethernet cable to your home router. They run about $200, but it may be a very useful investment; NAS devices are great for file sharing and backups for multiple computers, and they typically offer remote file access via FTP or even your Web browser, depending on the device. Popular NAS boxes that let you access your files remotely include: Buffalo Linkstation and Apple's Time Capsule.
Option 5: Add an External Hard Drive to Your Home Router
Another remote file sharing option would be to add an external hard drive to your existing (or a new) home router -- if your router has the capability to enable file sharing, that is. The Netgear WNDR3700 Router, for example, is a wireless dual-band (offers both 802.11b/g and 802.11n) router with a "ReadyShare" feature for sharing a USB storage device over the network and via FTP. The Linksys Dual-Band WRT600N is a similar router with network storage capabilities. Although using an external hard drive connected to your router will be slower than a dedicated NAS, this option may be less expensive if you already have an external drive to use and/or the router.
Option 6: Set Up Your Own Home Server
Finally, if you don't want to use a third-party solution and would rather set up your own VPN and server, both Apple Mac OS Server and Windows Home Server claim to make home or small business networking and remote access easy. (And of course there are many different Linux Server flavors; most of the NAS devices run on Linux.) This option is the most expensive and time-consuming to set up, but offers you the most control.
LogMeIn: offers both a free version that works with Windows PCs and Macs for remote desktop control as well as a Pro version that also enables file transfers, remote printing, and more.
GoToMyPC: is a subscription-based service from Citrix starting at $19.95 per month for one computer (Mac or PC). GoToMyPC offers similar advanced features, like drag-and-drop file transfer, that the paid LogMeIn Pro version includes. There's a free trial, so you can compare GoToMyPC with the free version of LogMeIn to see which works better for you.
UltraVNC: is a free, very configurable program that uses VNC (Virtual Network Computing) technology for remote desktop sharing. It offers many advanced features like special graphics drivers, encryption plugins, and Windows authentication, but can be more complex to configure.