Quick Wireless Network question

[Magic_x_uk]

Just a quick question about wireless networks.


At my home I have my main pc / 2nd pc and laptop all connected to the net, 2 pc's are wired to router and laptop is wireless.

Now I have enabled file sharing on all pc's and laptop, so whatever computer you are on in the house you can see and change, view etc any files/folders on other machines in the house as well as print as one of the pc's has the printer attached.

So i have enabled all thee folders etc as "shared" so am i right in thinking this is a network ?


ANYHOW


my question is this.


If as my laptop has shared folders/files etc I go to somewhere with my laptop and connect wirelessly at say a hotel / airport etc. Can other people LOOK at my SHARED FILES and view / change them etc and can I do the same to there's ?

Or is there some safe-guard I am not aware of or have overlooked ?

Just something that crossed my mind earlier, as I have WEP enabled at home but some of these hotels/airports etc are just open for anyone to wirelessly connect to ?


thank you

 

[Berserker]

If as my laptop has shared folders/files etc I go to somewhere with my laptop and connect wirelessly at say a hotel / airport etc. Can other people LOOK at my SHARED FILES and view / change them etc and can I do the same to there's ?

If you have no security protection, then YES!

Do not trust public access points - use a firewall and preferably a password as well.

 

[Magic_x_uk]

well i use windows XP Sp2 firewall if thats what you mean, just curious how you would set up a password for when on a network though ?

 

[Berserker]

That'll do, providing you make sure to set it not to allow exclusions while 'on the road'.

As for the password, you can set that from the Windows control panel. Pick a good password if you do though - no sense having a password if it's guessable (e.g. don't use 'password').

 

[Magic_x_uk]

you have lost me now, dont know how to do all that, im quite computer savvy but not about this stuff.

Looked in control panel, nothing about passwords there.

When you have the time, let me know what you mean exactly or point me in a direction perhaps,

cheers, appreciated.

Just not that often I hook up away from home. But was just thinking even if i am at a office or hotel and I am on the net, OR PERHAPS even if the laptop is on, people can access my shared folders / files

 

[sja360]

Control Panel -> User Accounts -> click on your account then create a password.
i believe thats what Berserker is on about.
as for the "no exceptions" on the windows firewall -
Start -> Control Panel -> Network Connections -> Double Click your Wireless Connection -> Properties -> Advanced -> Settings -> tick dont allow exceptions then click ok and ok to all the other windows.