File Sharing and Its Dangers...

Ok I have enabled windows file sharing and everything fine, but does leaving the option checked leave my mac and my PC exposed to any danger online? Could just anybody poke around in my HD of my mac and PC without my permission? Or should I just turn off sharing when ever I don't use it?

Thanks

If you have a wireless network with encryption enabled, the person would first have to get onto the network before any poking around can happen. If your network is insecure, you still technically need a password to access the shared files on the Mac, but I believe the shared folder on Windows is readily accessible.

But if you're on a secure network, you have nothing to worry about.

Oh ok then, well I have a network (wired not wireless) so I gues I am good to go there but how about the PC thats hooked up to a DSL modem and then to the internet is there a way to protect the shared folders?