Secure Remote access?

["Chad Thomsen" <chad.thomsen () bramespecialty com>]

I have relatives with older computers who constantly get viruses and need
help who live in other states.  I would like to set up some sort of VNC so I
can log into there computers and help them out.  The problem with VNC is
that it is not secure.  Yes I know I could set up a SSL system but I have to
keep this very simple as my relatives are NOT computer literate.  No, I
cannot use Windows XP with remote assistance because these are Win98
machines.  Yes they should upgrade, but what is the point if all they are
doing is checking their email and surfing the web on occasion?  The machine
I would use to get into my relatives machine would be Windows XP (preferred
due to knowledge) or RH Linux (still learning).
 
Does anybody have a simple solution to this that is free or very cheap? 
Sorry to sound like a cheap skate but a lot of my relatives are retired and
are on fixed income.
 
Thanks,
Chad Thomsen, MCSE, CCNA
Network Administrator
Brame Specialty