How to hide shared document folder

[emil_lam]

Hi,

My PC installed with XP Professional has one shared document folder
under My Computer "tree". That folder has 2 sub-folders named "shared
music" & "shared pictures". I remembered previously that I have run
network installation wizard to enable this PC to share folders
internally with other PCs in my private LAN.

Now, I use this PC to surf internet. I would like to know if these
folders will open a back door for intruder while browsing internet ? If
so, what should I do to protect against this P.S. I have installed &
activated Norton Internet Security.

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

These folders are shared for user's of your network. They do not create any kind of back door. If an intruder can hack into your system to get that far, then you're pretty well screwed anyway.

Use a good quality firewall and use strong passwords on all the user accounts on your system.

 

[emil_lam]

Doug Knox MS-MVP 寫é“：

These folders are shared for user's of your network. They do not create any kind of back door.

Doug,

You mean no information about my computer & file system installed
inside will be exposed via this folder ? Will outsider see this folder
& content inside automatically if they know my IP address ?

If an intruder can hack into your system to get that far, then you're
pretty well screwed anyway.

 

[Malke]

Doug Knox MS-MVP 寫é“：


Doug,

You mean no information about my computer & file system installed
inside will be exposed via this folder ? Will outsider see this folder
& content inside automatically if they know my IP address ?

If an intruder can hack into your system to get that far, then you're
pretty well screwed anyway.

In addition to doing as Doug suggested, if you are connected to the
Internet by broadband (cable, DSL) consider buying a router - even if
this is a standalone machine. Home routers are quite inexpensive and
while they aren't the same as a true hardware firewall, they provide
your computer with a private IP address that can't be seen from the
Internet. That isn't to say no one can ever get into your system, but a
router is an additional layer of protection.

In any case, the folder you are concerned about does not open any doors
into your system. As Doug told you, if your system is compromised then
it will not be through the existence of that folder and the intruder
will have possession of your entire computer.

Malke