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Brom_Nader's avatar
Brom_Nader
Copper Contributor
Sep 10, 2023

Simple network file sharing authentication

Hi - I have several computers on a home network. I want one other user share a folder on my computer, without allowing anyone else, and without creating a login for this user on my PC. How do I do th...
Authentication
security
Ian_Dodds's avatar
Ian_Dodds
Copper Contributor
Sep 10, 2023
Just because you make a login on your PC doesn't mean that the user has to use it to actually log on to your PC. It can just be used for sharing if you don't tell the user what the password is to prevent them logging on to your computer with it.
Using the command netplwiz.exe & choosing "without a Microsoft account" & then "Local account" will let you simply create a name & password. Then use yourPCname\U2 from their end to access the shared drive. Tick the remember password box. 🙂
It's a lot safer to share a folder on F: drive than the whole drive even if you put everything on that drive in a single folder. That way, the only damage that can be done is inside that one folder (possibly named "Shared" so you don't forget in several years).
  • Brom_Nader's avatar
    Brom_Nader
    Copper Contributor
    Sep 11, 2023

    Thanks! If I understand correctly, I first create a login for U2 on PC1, without giving out the password.

    Instead of adding a user account PC1/U2, I can use netplwiz.exe to create said account without the usual overhead and desktop etc. What if U2 discovers the password and tries to login. What happens if I use netplwiz?

     

    A hacker on PC3 can rename the PC to PC2 and create a U2 account and get access to the folder?

     

    I am surprised that MS is delinquent in offering an intelligent solution to this very common problem.  For example - no account to be created, but if I add PC2\U2 to the permission list, I will have to assign a password to it.  When PC2/U2 wishes to access the folder, s/he will have to enter that password.

    I get a little unnerved creating an account on my PC and hoping another user will not discover or guess his/her password. There is always a non-zero probability that may happen. And the login screen now has 5 people listed besides me.

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