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| Thread ID: 83212 | 2007-09-23 21:13:00 | File Sharing Question | SurferJoe46 (51) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 594338 | 2007-09-23 21:13:00 | When I have file sharing running on this side of my DSL Modem allowing two or more puters to share, am I also opening file sharing to the OTHER side of my modem? In other words, am I capable of having my files seen from the WAN outside of my physical firewall by me allowing file sharing on my LAN side? If it isn't a problem, then why is it so hard (sometimes) to get file sharing going between two puters? As I understand it, Vista is really tough on this . It sees this as a security risk, I know . I am NOT running Vista . . I use XP-Pro on everything I own . (I have one on Mepis as a media server which runs very well . ) No problem there at all . Also . . is just running a printer on LAN share a security risk? |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 594339 | 2007-09-23 21:47:00 | When I have file sharing running on this side of my DSL Modem allowing two or more puters to share, am I also opening file sharing to the OTHER side of my modem? In other words, am I capable of having my files seen from the WAN outside of my physical firewall by me allowing file sharing on my LAN side? To answer one of your questions - Yes shared files that are on A LAN can be seen from the internet -WAN - BUT you first have to have another point of access to your LAN. Since a LAN is a different set of IP addresses from the WAN Eg.192.168.1.? Then you need something like a server or another form of access point -Eg. VPN to first get access to the LAN, once into the LAN you can then see any shared folders / PC's that are available. Thats why the security is sometimes so tough. If you got "Hacked" or someone put a backdoor trojan on your PC - there is the access point. While Vista does make file sharing harder, thats for a reason - the file sharing is built off of the server 2003 technology - meaning you can set permissions, access and passwords to shared folders. An example of another access point is Windows Home Server - With that you can log into the server - needing a user name and password, from there any shared folders on the server can be accessed from almost any PC in the world, you can also set permissions so only certain people can see them, and require a password to access. if you run a wireless network , you have to have security enabled other wise you are asking for trouble. An example of that is I was at a customers house a few months back & her Neighbour had an unsecured wireless network - The only shared item was her printer. And just to show it was unsecure the customer rang her neighbour - who didn't believe her, so as an example I got permission to print a test page from the unsecure printer from across the road , well guess who had just got another job when all of a sudden her printer spat out a test page and no one was on the PC's :eek: So any shared folders would have also been visable from the WAN - Unsecure wireless network. |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 594340 | 2007-09-24 04:00:00 | That gives me some pause... Thanks for the info.......yuck! |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 594341 | 2007-09-24 04:31:00 | That gives me some pause... Thanks for the info.......yuck! It's not as bad as it sounds- millions of users share folders over a LAN - Its not really any different than having a Single PC. If you got hacked / Backdoor trojan then your files and data would be at risk - file sharing simply adds in the ability to have access to other PC's. Simple solution - If you have file sharing, make sure all the PC's are secure with a good Firewall/Antivirus/ Antispyware.The whole LAN is only as strong as the weakest Security. If you want added security, then WinXP Pro allows you to set permissions so only certain people can access the folders. See Here (www.imagef1.net.nz) If you want to password protect folders there are several ways to do it - Normally by a third party program. Thats the one feature I miss from Win98 - you could password protect folders - strange they took that feature out of a so called "Advanced System XP" |
wainuitech (129) | ||
| 594342 | 2007-09-24 05:47:00 | wainuitech Very good explanations there! One question to that. If I share folders and printers and test my system with a web based firewall tester and the result is that my machine can not be seen, how come is it that the machine is not secure? I have not secured my wireless(rural) so the only way someone could get in(without the insider tricks) is with connecting through the wireless from a short distance? Does that sound right? NT |
notechyet (4479) | ||
| 594343 | 2007-09-24 05:53:00 | Possibly another uneducated question.... Can my videos or MP3s be copied and used by outsiders? |
SurferJoe46 (51) | ||
| 594344 | 2007-09-24 06:17:00 | I doubt it, not unless you've shared the folder the MP3's/videos are in. I think you're getting confused between wireless network and LAN notechyet. Wireless net may work differently to using a wireless LAN. And it may be more secure once u connect to the ISP. Than, if you were on a wireless LAN/network. It depends on what your ISP does to protect you from outsiders, while using their service. |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
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