how can i password-protect to access my computer when it is on windows xp wireless network?

Question

when workgroup computers access my computer for shared files, how can a password be applied there?

Answer 1

i dont think you can do it in xp, with extra tools u may be able to

Answer 2

Individuals on your network can't access your private folders and files unless you have shared them. In those folders and files you are sharing you can password protect them, or allow only certain individuals to have the right to access them, but only if Simple File Sharing is disabled on the Network.

With Simple File Sharing enabled on the network, all network access is controlled by the rights and privleges of the Guest Account and is limited to only those. However, this gives network access to all shared files without exception to the "everybody" as Full Access rights to those shares. With Simple File Sharing disabled accross the netowrk, and the Guest Account diabled in all networked comptuers, then the full range of NTFS File Permissions is in affect and you can determine who can have access to your shares and the level of access they have.

To place your profile as "Private" you would have first had that opportunity when the OS was first setup on the system and you were prompted whether or not you wanted to "Make your folders Private". If you did not do that, or if you did not have the opportunity to do so, you can do it by clicking on your profile in Documents and Settings, right click on it, select Properties from the shortcut menu, click on the Sharing Tab and select "Do not share this folder" or file, whatever wording is used there. This makes all your folders and files private even from administrators, unless an administrator takes ownership and you would know right away if such a thing occurred.

Now, for any shares you have you can determine who has access and what type of access by right clicking on the share and selecting the security tab. The security tab is only available if Simple File Sharing is disabled and you are not using Windows XP Home. Windows XP Home can only use Simple File Sharing, unless the security tab is access in safe mode which is a real hassle to do on a daily basis. You will need to go into the security policy and set the policy that network access can only be done via Authenticated Users which includes using a password, but that is only is Simple File Sharing and the Guest Account is disabled.

You can password protect files by using the encrypting files system attribute of the NTFS File ssytem. If you feel a need to password protect a share, you should reconsider sharing it. However, if there is still a need, you right click the file or folder and on the general tab click the Advanced button at the bottom. A dialog window with options will appear and at the bottom is the option to encrypt the file. Follow the instructions for setting the password after you have selected encrypt.

Now, it is important for you to be aware that you can not password protect the actual folder the files are within, but the files themselves only. To do so you open the folder and right click on any file within, and follow the above proceedure. All of the files will then be password protected by that password. However, any future additons of files to that particular folder will not be password protected. In order to password protect additional files stored in that folder you will need to remove the password and then repeat the process of placing a password once agan to protect the newly added files along with the others.

Hope this helps you out some. Oh, you can also password protect an compressed folder too, the same as the encrypted form, so you select which option you wish to use. The same holds true on having to remove the password and reapply it when adding files.

Good luck and have a great day and weekend.

Answer 3

If you set wireless security like you should, the other computers in your network won't be able to access yours. You can set limits on what files are shared, however, and set a password that only the networked computer users will know. If they forget their password, they will have to contact you to get it.

Are you using a router? If so, call the router manufacturer. They will be glad to help you with this.

Answer 4

Simply disable the guest account :),
from My Computer right mouse click->manage, goto local Users and Groups, make sure that the Guest account is disabled or manually set a password for it, create a limited user account give it a password and inform only those whom you want access your shared files to use that username:password. You have to set the permissions on the shared (File/Folder) according to how you want them to access it.

Answer 5

you will have to make a change to the global security policy. that way a user will have to enter a user name and password anytime they want to use a shared resource on that computer

Answer 6

http://www.download.com
find wireless security and you'll have one.