deleting workgroup

[ashwin]

I never added a workgroup and my admin account is password protected. When I start my iMac, the spotlight says indexing WEND. I figured out that WEND is the workgroup pointing to some IP in China (218.93.250.18). I am afraid if someone is stealing my files or something. I tried to remove the workgroup but after deleting and saving changes, it reverts back to the same setting again. How do I know how this has happened in the first place and how do I remove the workgroup. Please advise.

 

[ashwin]

I can provide additional details if anyone aware of the potential security problem I am facing. I want to delete the workgroup. Though I am the admin user, unable to delete it, meaning, I can change the workgroup name, but when I ping the same new name, it still points to that crazy unknown 218.93.250.18.

 

[chscag]

It sounds to me that you might be picking up someone else on your network. There's no one stealing your data as long as you have all sharing turned off. Make sure your router access is protected with a strong password and you're using WPA2 for security. You might consider changing the channel on your router to something else. What you're seeing happens quite often in areas where there is a crowded bandwidth. Common in apartment buildings, college dormitories, etc.

 

[ashwin]

OK Thanks. Is there a way to delete it? Also, the "shared folder" is turned off when I view "Get Info" on my hard disk. Is that all?

 

[chscag]

Open System Preferences and click on "Sharing". If there is a check in any box (file, printers, etc) remove the check. You should have one shared folder listed as "public". You can remove that by clicking on the small minus button at the bottom of the dialog. Do not make any other changes. Always make sure your computer is password protected and it requires a log on password.