"Or would it be necessary to purchase another printer to maintain what level of autonomy there is?"
Enabling file and print sharing is not necessarily a security risk on the network. Don't share any files on the host computer and you should be relatively safe. Spyware doesn't jump from computer to computer such as worms or other virus's.
Active scanning for spyware is now a component of most Security packages. The key issue is in maintaining up to date definitions.
I am an active stock market investor. Recently a piece of spyware managed to make it to my computer. It not only was a bear to get off the computer it was a wake up call in regards to security.
Both my wife and I are very concerned that in the future a keylogger malware could make it onto the computer. So we are instituting some safeguards. One is that the computer that I actually use for trading will only be used for trading. In otherwords it will only be going to the online brokerages where I trade -or- to update anti virus, anti spyware software.
Now I know next to nothing about networks. We have a wireless router that I have installed and with the help of technical support got it running. The wireless aspect of it will be shut off while the trading computer is on.
The concern that I have is about printing. I have a HP Laserjet 1000 which the instructions said can't be used with a print server. Which really isn't a problem....except. Concern if malware could leak onto the trading computer from general internet computer while sending a file from the trading computer to the general internet computer to print. I haven't even gotten to the point of actually setting up network to be able to send a file from the trading computer to the general internet computer yet.
Or would it be necessary to purchase another printer to maintain what level of autonomy there is?
FYI, The trading computer is a Windows 98 machine. It will have Mozilla installed along with Norton's Internet Security (I know it's slow, but it is paid for), and various spyware detection packages. I have been advised to remove Internet Explorer, Outlook, and Media Player. I will probably strip everything off that isn't needed short of a program to operate the modem. The account #'s and passwords will actually be kept off the computer hard drive and kept on one of those USB keys. The connection to the Internet is via broad band.
Thank you,
Jim

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