file sharing security

[Homer]

Hello,
I have a wireless network at home comprised of a desktop and laptop. I
share files and the printer between these two machines. Recently, a family
member was over with his laptop which had a wireless adapter installed. He
wanted to get on the internet. One thing I noticed was that he was able to
access my share file folder. Is there any way to prevent that or is the only
option to turn off file sharing while in situations that put me in close
proximity to machines that have wireless adapters or in a wifi situation?

Thanks

[Malke]

Homer wrote:

> Hello,
> I have a wireless network at home comprised of a desktop and laptop.
> I
> share files and the printer between these two machines. Recently, a
> family
> member was over with his laptop which had a wireless adapter
> installed. He
> wanted to get on the internet. One thing I noticed was that he was
> able to
> access my share file folder. Is there any way to prevent that or is
> the only option to turn off file sharing while in situations that put
> me in close proximity to machines that have wireless adapters or in a
> wifi situation?

If you have XP Home, then you have all sharing or no sharing. If you
have XP Pro, you can set up permissions based on user account access.
Which do you have?

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

[RobertVA]

Homer wrote:
> Hello,
> I have a wireless network at home comprised of a desktop and laptop. I
> share files and the printer between these two machines. Recently, a family
> member was over with his laptop which had a wireless adapter installed. He
> wanted to get on the internet. One thing I noticed was that he was able to
> access my share file folder. Is there any way to prevent that or is the only
> option to turn off file sharing while in situations that put me in close
> proximity to machines that have wireless adapters or in a wifi situation?
>
> Thanks

DON'T operate a wireless LAN without changing the router's security
settings from the defaults!! Change the default SSID. Disable SSID
broadcast. Change the default password. Enable MAC address filtering.
Enable WEP or WPA Encryption.

Make sure you don't use the Windows XP default networking work group
name too.

Check your router's instructions, you router manufacturer's web site or
Linksys' tutorials at
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Content_C1&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1116519873380&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper

Don't put anything in your share folder you don't want available to
everyone in your LAN.

[Homer]

Thanks for your response. I do have the Home edition. Is it expensive or a
pain to install the Pro edition?

"Malke" wrote:

> Homer wrote:
>
> > Hello,
> > I have a wireless network at home comprised of a desktop and laptop.
> > I
> > share files and the printer between these two machines. Recently, a
> > family
> > member was over with his laptop which had a wireless adapter
> > installed. He
> > wanted to get on the internet. One thing I noticed was that he was
> > able to
> > access my share file folder. Is there any way to prevent that or is
> > the only option to turn off file sharing while in situations that put
> > me in close proximity to machines that have wireless adapters or in a
> > wifi situation?
>
> If you have XP Home, then you have all sharing or no sharing. If you
> have XP Pro, you can set up permissions based on user account access.
> Which do you have?
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>

[Homer]

Thanks for the response. I've linked to the URL you provided and will give
it a read.

"RobertVA" wrote:

> Homer wrote:
> > Hello,
> > I have a wireless network at home comprised of a desktop and laptop. I
> > share files and the printer between these two machines. Recently, a family
> > member was over with his laptop which had a wireless adapter installed. He
> > wanted to get on the internet. One thing I noticed was that he was able to
> > access my share file folder. Is there any way to prevent that or is the only
> > option to turn off file sharing while in situations that put me in close
> > proximity to machines that have wireless adapters or in a wifi situation?
> >
> > Thanks
>
> DON'T operate a wireless LAN without changing the router's security
> settings from the defaults!! Change the default SSID. Disable SSID
> broadcast. Change the default password. Enable MAC address filtering.
> Enable WEP or WPA Encryption.
>
> Make sure you don't use the Windows XP default networking work group
> name too.
>
> Check your router's instructions, you router manufacturer's web site or
> Linksys' tutorials at
> http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Content_C1&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1116519873380&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper
>
> Don't put anything in your share folder you don't want available to
> everyone in your LAN.
>