Still need to set share passwords for internet security?

by jaliw May 24, 2005 5:16AM PDT

I'm setting up a network between two computers (laptop w/ xp pro and desktop with xp home.) I'm concerned because I don't see any place to require a password for sharing. Both computers have direct dial-up access to the internet.

Last time I set a network up without passwords, a virus got onto onto a computer thru an unprotected network line, though the computer actually connected to the internet at the moment was not affected. Both computers had antivirus and Zonealarm. I was advised at the time that I needed a password on the home network, and that prevented it happening again.

Do I still need a password for network security, and if so, how do I create passwords? I am sharing a few folders on each computer and an external HD on the desktop.

Discussion is locked

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Set password for shard folders not computer.

by AussiePete May 24, 2005 8:53AM PDT

You can do this by right clicking on the folder(s)you want to share then Properties then sharing.
Peter

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Nowhere to require a password

by jaliw May 25, 2005 1:36AM PDT

The only options are whether or not to share the folder, share name, and whether or not users can change the files. There's no place to put a password. Don't I need one on there to keep from sharing it with the internet?

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Try this

by MarkFlax Former Forum moderator May 25, 2005 4:06AM PDT

In Help and Support, (Start > Help and Support), click "Networking and the Web", and in the next screen find and click "Passwords and Security".

In the list on the right find "Connect to a network resource".

To be honest, I am not sure if this will help. It discusses "Mapping a network drive", not something I have ever done myself.

But I hope it helps.

Mark

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In connection properties

by AussiePete May 25, 2005 7:30AM PDT

start/settings/connection(name of shared connection) then properies then security
Peter

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Learning about forceguest--no passwords

by jaliw May 26, 2005 1:31AM PDT

From googling Win Xp Home network I've run across the information that Win Home uses forceguest--which only allows guest level networking--and that passwords are not available. The security options seem to be 1) Windows firewall on or off, which seems redundant with ZoneAlarm, and 2) File sharing turned on or off. The computer really gets agitated about security when the file sharing is turned on, but isn't that what networking is all about?

If both machines were running XP we could do normal permissions and security. If only one of the computers had an internet connection it would be a simpler problem. But the fact of so much shared between the two computers, two internet connections and no apparent security measures on the network between them....well, I'm nervous. Should I be?

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Learning

by AussiePete May 26, 2005 5:33AM PDT

..why does it have to be so painful!
Right click on (say) a folder you are going to share - goto properties, you will see in the section "network sharing" and at the bottom click learn more about sharing - this will take to "help and support" which covers the topic
Also right click on the folder "shared Documents" you will note this has been (by default) marked as a shared file!!!!!??????. It is like this, an XP stand alone computer is like a network in itself, having a domain and work groups is just an extension of this. And when you mark folder as shared they are shared with people on your local network.
Lets look at your concerns - I take it you are worried that if you make folders shared (which I have pointed out you already have!) then people on the internet can read your folders, am I correct? - But these people would have to know the name of your domain and work group as well - and if they are that clever at "hacking" a simple password is but a minor detail - if they are clever to be able to get thus far, by-passing having to login to your work group is but a minor detail - and they would probably use this method anyway - after all they have bypassed your firewall to get access to one of your computer in the first place - get my point!
As for zone alarm you should be able to allow access from (only) the computers you want - this is better than any password.
Sorry, but I cant help you anymore than that, as I use XP PRO and am not well read in this area anyway. The sky is the limit with XP but maybe you can change some of the privilege settings in the guest account in XP Home (from memory guest accounts have very few privileges anyway). Anyway just quessing now.
Peter

Still need to set share passwords for internet security?

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