Securing Homegroup Win 7

**J1mmy** · August 25th, 2012, 05:47 PM

I have created a personal homegroup with the built in feature in win7. However, I was doing some experimenting today, and it seems like that anyone on my wifi can access my computers without any password.

The whole point of setting this up was to be able to stream videos from my main PC to my netbook, and long with syncing files etc. However, when I searched for my PC on my netbook through the homegroup I simply clicked on my PC and was granted access.

I 'left' the homegroup on my netbook as I though it had been authorised, but then tried to gain access again, and it let me in without asking for any password

So essentially now, my entire user directory is shared. And as my house mates share my wifi connection (although on different wifi guest SSIDs) can still see my PC. Whether they can connect to my PC, I'm not sure.

**RicheemxX** · August 25th, 2012, 06:05 PM

On a guest account they shouldn't be able to see or access any other pcs on the network. If you don't want others on the "homegroup" to see or access the files or folders simply setup permissions. The idea of the W7 homegroup is quick basic sharing with everyone so they leave it fairly open.

File sharing essentials

Password protected sharing

**J1mmy** · August 25th, 2012, 07:04 PM

Well, it seems that the reason I can get instant access without entering in password is because my username and password on my PC and netbook are exactly the same.

I just change my username on my netbook, and it prompts me for a password. But I still can't understand Windows' obsession for sharing teh WHOLE user directory. Not safe.

**RicheemxX** · August 25th, 2012, 07:25 PM

The point is ease of access. You are supposed to know that when you are joining a homegroup or using a home network that you are a bit more open and running a bit less secure.

In other words more people are likely to complain about having to jump through hoops to share across their home networks with known users than they are to having to properly secure their computers. AFAIK by default when you setup a homegroup you are password protected no matter what. Unless they are on your homegroup they shouldn't be able to see or access the folders. And even then might be able to see the folders but still shouldn't have access.

And yeah you've never been able to use the same username/password combo across a network. You have to set individual log-ins for each machine.

**J1mmy** · September 2nd, 2012, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by RicheemxX

And yeah you've never been able to use the same username/password combo across a network. You have to set individual log-ins for each machine.

I think its the opposite for W7? The OS immediately connection without password prompt if the user name and password is the same across machines. This is what I didn't know and thus was the reason of my thread from the start.