Hide PC in Peer to Peer WORKGROUP

[Mark Flynn]

I have a "finance" PC that's part of a peer to peer network. This PC and
it's "My Documents" files are viewable from other PC's.
Question ?
Can I hide this PC by just changing it's workgroup name? What's the best
way for me to take this PC out of the loop?
All PC's are running Windows XP Pro.
Thanks, Mark Flynn

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In

I have a "finance" PC that's part of a peer to peer network. This PC
and it's "My Documents" files are viewable from other PC's.
Question ?
Can I hide this PC by just changing it's workgroup name? What's the
best way for me to take this PC out of the loop?
All PC's are running Windows XP Pro.
Thanks, Mark Flynn

If you don't need to share files from this PC, you could untick File & Print
sharing.

However, 'security by obscurity' is not necessarily the best way to go here.
Secure your data using NTFS permissions and don't let anyone in who doesn't
need to be in. Enable your firewall & don't allow exceptions.

 

[Mark Flynn]

Hi Lanwench:
Thanks for your prompt reply.
Best regards, Mark Flynn
"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I have a "finance" PC that's part of a peer to peer network. This PC and
it's "My Documents" files are viewable from other PC's.
Question ?
Can I hide this PC by just changing it's workgroup name?

No. Workgroups don't provide any type of security or access control.
A computer in any workgroup can access a computer in any workgroup.

What's the best
way for me to take this PC out of the loop?
All PC's are running Windows XP Pro.

See Lanwench's reply for good suggestions.

Thanks, Mark Flynn

--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Rube]

To hide the PC in My Network Places type this in a command line:
net config server /hidden:yes

Note that this will NOT prevent the use of UNC (\\server\share) access.

But, Lanwench's advice is the correct way to go.