file sharing

[Alex]

Dear all: this is a newbie question on file sharing, and I hope
someone can answer me.

Currently I have a home network setup with my desktop (XP-Pro sp2) set
for file sharing (simple file sharing turned off - limited to
priviledge user access only). Sharing goes well with this setup:
example from my laptop I can simply type
\\desktop1 , I enter the username and password and I am in.

But while using a computer in my school, I notice that I can simply go
to explorer and type \\IP addressOfDesktop and up comes the username
and password, I enter it, and I am in!

I am very excited about this, because it may give me the abilityt to
share my files over the internet. But common sense tells me that I
should worry and learn about this a little more.

1) is the password and username I am sending even encypted? or can is
it sent as plain text.
2) What happens when I transfer files: are they encrypted. I know that
in remote desktop all files transfer are encrypted.
3) is my system compromised. Admittingly I have a firewall in which I
allow the computer I have a school access, but still I am little
worry.

thanks in advance
al

 

[Richard G. Harper]

You should not be a little worried - you should be a LOT worried. Your
computer is fully exposed to the Internet and there's precious little
preventing anyone from hacking their way in and doing things to your
computer (or the files on it) that you don't want them to be doing.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm