network with no protection...

stifler · 11-10-2008, 02:06 PM

heyy everyone
just a quick silly question.
i have just managed to set up a wireless network finally. took ages but its well worth it!
Just wondering however. if i have set no WEP/WPA etc...protection on the network because i dont want to, and beside i dont mind people using my internet connection cause its free anyway.
but does that mean they can also gain access to all my files on the pc aswell? or will it be easier for hackers to do so?
i am currently using windows vista, and in the network options i have turned off file sharing and printer sharing, but network discovery is on. does that mean anything?

seriouschat · 11-10-2008, 08:46 PM

Think of your network as an office building and without security you're leaving every entrance wide open. Your actual office door may be locked, but having someone roaming the halls just brings them that much closer. If someone taps into a LAN, they can retrieve useful info about any computer on that LAN. So yes, hacking your computer is possible. The more information and access you give someone, the easier it becomes. They can also use your connection to hack outside your LAN and if traced, it will lead back to you. Bad idea.

Network Discovery gives you and other computers on your network the ability to see each other. Important if you're active with other users/computers on your LAN; otherwise I'd disable it.

11-10-2008, 02:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
stifler Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 120 OS: XP	network with no protection... heyy everyone just a quick silly question. i have just managed to set up a wireless network finally. took ages but its well worth it! Just wondering however. if i have set no WEP/WPA etc...protection on the network because i dont want to, and beside i dont mind people using my internet connection cause its free anyway. but does that mean they can also gain access to all my files on the pc aswell? or will it be easier for hackers to do so? i am currently using windows vista, and in the network options i have turned off file sharing and printer sharing, but network discovery is on. does that mean anything?

11-10-2008, 08:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
seriouschat Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 68 OS: Ubuntu 8.10 / Vista	Re: network with no protection... Think of your network as an office building and without security you're leaving every entrance wide open. Your actual office door may be locked, but having someone roaming the halls just brings them that much closer. If someone taps into a LAN, they can retrieve useful info about any computer on that LAN. So yes, hacking your computer is possible. The more information and access you give someone, the easier it becomes. They can also use your connection to hack outside your LAN and if traced, it will lead back to you. Bad idea. Network Discovery gives you and other computers on your network the ability to see each other. Important if you're active with other users/computers on your LAN; otherwise I'd disable it.