If I go to a public wireless spot can someone access my drives?

I have a wireless network well secured (wpa enabled wep and not
broadcasting ssid changed from default and browser based setup screen
password protected and only accessed (at least so far) from a hard
wired pc.) at home which I allow access to my C drive on my other
pc's. If I go to a coffee house or somewhere with my laptop which has
the drive(s) set for sharing on my home network will they be available
to others in the public network? I am just a little unsure about
this.

BoatsBoatsBoats wrote:
> I have a wireless network well secured (wpa enabled wep and not
> broadcasting ssid changed from default and browser based setup screen
> password protected and only accessed (at least so far) from a hard
> wired pc.) at home which I allow access to my C drive on my other
> pc's. If I go to a coffee house or somewhere with my laptop which has
> the drive(s) set for sharing on my home network will they be available
> to others in the public network? I am just a little unsure about
> this.
>
Perhaps, perhaps not. According to how the system is set up at the WiFi
site.

It is simple enough in a router to turn off netbios ports. But not
everyone running a WiFi spot is knowledgable in such things. Best to not
have shares allocated in that situation.

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
BoatsBoatsBoats <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> I have a wireless network well secured (wpa enabled wep and not
> broadcasting ssid changed from default and browser based setup screen
> password protected and only accessed (at least so far) from a hard
> wired pc.) at home which I allow access to my C drive on my other
> pc's. If I go to a coffee house or somewhere with my laptop which has
> the drive(s) set for sharing on my home network will they be available
> to others in the public network? I am just a little unsure about
> this.

It'd be visible _that they're shared_ with the appropriate tool, but
someone would be unable to access them without a valid username and
password, or a working crack. I wouldn't trust Windows' security to keep my
data safe. To keep your data away from prying eyes, un-associate 'file and
printer sharing' from TCP/IP over the 802.11x connection when you're away
from home (Start -> Settings -> 'Network Connections', select '802.11b
Connection', alt-enter, uncheck 'File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft
Networks' for me under XP.

--
-eben (E-Mail Removed)m home.tampabay.rr.com/hactar

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -- Ben Franklin

Hactar <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> It'd be visible _that they're shared_ with the appropriate tool, but
> someone would be unable to access them without a valid username and
> password, or a working crack. I wouldn't trust Windows' security to keep my

I have ZoneLabs personal firewall installed. This blocks the NetBIOS inquiry
that someone would do to find out that I have shares available.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8-122.5

BoatsBoatsBoats <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news(E-Mail Removed):

> I have a wireless network well secured (wpa enabled wep and not
> broadcasting ssid changed from default and browser based setup screen
> password protected and only accessed (at least so far) from a hard
> wired pc.) at home which I allow access to my C drive on my other
> pc's. If I go to a coffee house or somewhere with my laptop which has
> the drive(s) set for sharing on my home network will they be available
> to others in the public network? I am just a little unsure about
> this.
>

I would think all you would need to do is install a host based FW on the
machine or use a XP IPSEC Security Policy Filter to block all IP(s) on
ports. Those ports being 137 UDP, 138 UDP, 139 TCP and (445 NT based O/S
TCP).

Duane

If you are running Windows XP, you can go into connections and enable the
built in firewall for your WiFi connection so that no one can access your
PC. The firewall is configured independently for each connection, so it can
be disabled on your hardwire LAN connection, so you can share your files
when you are plugged in at home.

Mike Schumann

"BoatsBoatsBoats" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have a wireless network well secured (wpa enabled wep and not
> broadcasting ssid changed from default and browser based setup screen
> password protected and only accessed (at least so far) from a hard
> wired pc.) at home which I allow access to my C drive on my other
> pc's. If I go to a coffee house or somewhere with my laptop which has
> the drive(s) set for sharing on my home network will they be available
> to others in the public network? I am just a little unsure about
> this.
>