Windows 7: 6 PC home network permissions/security question

We have a home network with 6 pc's with various OS's. I think somewhere in one of the Tutorials I read to use user "Everyone" to setup the Network. With the different OS's we are not using the HomeGroup setup thru Windows.

The system is up (and has been) running fine but reading another post I am concerened that this is not a safe/secure home network using "Everyone"

If "Everyone" is selected on a home network PC for home network uses/applciation...is "Everyone" also vulnerable to outside/Internet/neighborhood penetration and attack ?

Or does the "Everyone" user block any and all users except those on the home network...ie...anyone any outside the home attempts to enter my home system/network ?

Thanks...TRinAZ

It only means that any machine that is part of your network will have access to those drives you set sharing and security permissions for "Everyone".

It does not mean that everyone outside your network will have access, although if someone were able to break into your network they would have full access to those drives. So from a security stand point it's not the safest way to share.

It would be a bit safer to either share the entire "User folder" if you need access to all of the "User" folders on the drive, or only share the folders you need access too from inside the network.

You would need to change the sharing and security permissions by removing "Everyone" on the actual drive before hand.

OK...thanks...if I remove "Everyone" do I replace the 'allowed' user ( mostly only me ) to access the other PC's in the home?

Is there a way to set up "Me" with a password so I would need to type in "Me" and "password" whenever one PC tries to access another PC or drive ?

TRinAZ

No it doesn't work like that.

You would need to add your own User account to the other PC's in the network in order to accomplish that.

It's not an easy process to share with individual users and it's required that you make another of the same User account/same password on all PC's, that way your name will show up on the list to share with.