Resolved Ethernet Splitter Question

I have been looking for a way to password protect my shared folders, but I can't find a way to do it yet.

Maybe XP Home doesn't support it?

 

OK, after searching I found a way to password protect my shared folders in XP Home. I did this on both computers, and noticed that the shared documents folder disappeared from My Network Places, which is good.

Now when I try to view the other PC in my workgroup I have to enter a password to gain access.

Here is a link if someone else needs to review this procedure...

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555471

Oddly enough, this is somehow involved with setting a password for the guest account.

 

I know that securing shared folders with a password will make for better security on a LAN, but what about a WAN (internet) on the other side of the modem?

Sorry so many questions, but networking is still new to me.

 

The guest account is off. I have no other accounts.

I take it I can go into safe mode and set permissions from there without using the downloaded fix? I went to safe mode and saw the security tab you mentioned, but I'm in a state of confusion as to what to do. Some of the accounts/groups listed in the security tab look unfamiliar to me.

 

So, I cannot disable file sharing in XP (even in the safe mode?), and I am at greater risk for internet hackers to break into my system unless I switch to XP Pro?

Sorry, I'm confused about simple file sharing. I want to share certain files, but yet I am supposed to *not* have file sharing enabled, if possible.

Pardon my ignorance, but it almost sounds like double talk to me.

I'll keep researching this topic as time permits.