File sharing and wireless roaming

From: Gary R. (roberthouse_at_geocities.com)
Date: 10/09/04 

Date: Fri, 8 Oct 2004 15:58:16 -0700

I tried this question on the wireless group and got no response, so here
goes...

Windows XP SP2 home laptop, connected at home with a wired/wireless router,
I have a couple of folders shared over the network that I use to transfer
misc. files and photos (MSHome is not the workgroup name I use). The
sharing is set to full, with no password currently, as there is no need for
the PW on the home network; the wireless is WEP protected.

So, when I go to a coffee place that has free wireless and I connect for
internet purposes, will those shared folders be visible to others using that
same wireless connection? They won't be in the same workgroup, but I'm not
so sure that means they can't see the files or shared folders.

I'm guessing that the Windows firewall would block them from writing files,
even without a password set, since they're not in my workgroup. But I don't
see what would stop them from viewing or copying.

There is nothing especially private in either of them at any time, but I'd
prefer that someone sitting in the coffee shop can't just click on "network
places" and see my workgroup and folders there, or worse, access them. I
can set a password for the full sharing of the folders; but regardless of
that would like to know if they would be able to see my shared resources,
and if so what can be done short of turning sharing off when I travel.
Thanks.

Gary

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