Basic File sharing question

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Guest

Dear Group,

I have two Windows XP Pro desktops networked together through a router and
also a laptop running XP Home which I connect to the network wirelessly. I
use Workgroup networking. For years now, when I want to share files between
computers - often syncronizing files between my laptop and desktop, I
manually go to each file I want to share, go into it's properties, and check
the "Share this folder on the network" and "Allow network users to change
files" checkboxes. And when I'm done, I go back and un-check them - if I
remember. My understanding is that if I leave them checked, they are not
secure as I am always connected to the internet via DSL with and the firewall
in the router is set to low.

So there has to be a better way. Can't I set up a password or something so I
don't have to manually change the sharing properties of each folder? Am I
wrong to think that when they are set to sharing that there's a security
risk? I should have asked this question years ago, but now that I have, any
help/direction would be very much appreciated.

Thank you, Scott
 
1. Use a router instead of a modem to connect to DSL. This largely
eliminates the risk.

2. Run services.msc, and set the Server process to be Manual.

Now when you want to share files, issue the command:

net start server

from a command-prompt.

Once done, issue the command:

net stop server
 
Scott said:
Dear Group,

I have two Windows XP Pro desktops networked together through a router and
also a laptop running XP Home which I connect to the network wirelessly. I
use Workgroup networking. For years now, when I want to share files between
computers - often syncronizing files between my laptop and desktop, I
manually go to each file I want to share, go into it's properties, and check
the "Share this folder on the network" and "Allow network users to change
files" checkboxes. And when I'm done, I go back and un-check them - if I
remember. My understanding is that if I leave them checked, they are not
secure as I am always connected to the internet via DSL with and the firewall
in the router is set to low.

So there has to be a better way. Can't I set up a password or something so I
don't have to manually change the sharing properties of each folder? Am I
wrong to think that when they are set to sharing that there's a security
risk? I should have asked this question years ago, but now that I have, any
help/direction would be very much appreciated.

Thank you, Scott
Click to expand...

I think that you can safely leave your files shared all the time,
Scott.

A typical wireless router acts as a firewall, preventing other people
on the Internet from accessing your shared files. It assigns private
IP addresses (usually 192.168.x.x) to your computers. Those IP
addresses are inaccessible from the Internet.

Windows XP has a built-in firewall that also protects your files. If
you don't have another firewall program, enable the XP firewall and
configure it to allow file sharing on your LAN.
--
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
 
Steve - I may be confused - I thought "Private" addresses usually assigned
by XP (no DCHP available) are in the 169..... range - while the range
198...... is considered "public" and necessary for access to the internet.
 
"AJR" said:
Steve - I may be confused - I thought "Private" addresses usually assigned
by XP (no DCHP available) are in the 169..... range - while the range
198...... is considered "public" and necessary for access to the internet.
Click to expand...

The 169.254.x.x range is reserved for automatic private IP addressing
when no DHCP server is available. A DHCP server must not assign an
address in that range.

A typical home broadband router has a DHCP server. It may assign
addresses in any of these ranges, which are also reserved for private
networks:

10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255
172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255
192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255

An address starting with 198 is public and shouldn't be assigned by a
DHCP server on a local area network. I'm not aware of any other
significance for 198. It's not necessary for access to the Internet.
--
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
 
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