Network-ed HTPC security

[Brian Hampton]

Hello,

I would like to network my HTPC to my living room PC so I can do some file transfers but I don't want to add security software to my HTPC.

Currently my HTPC has no networking installed and doesn't connect to the internet or anything like that. The living room pc is where I surf the net and it has security software such as firewall, virus, adware and so on.

Can I network my HTPC for the purpose of file shareing without adding that layer of security software? Any thoughts or tips appreciated.

Thanks and Good Luck,

Brian

[karson]

[QUOTE=Brian Hampton]Hello,

I would like to network my HTPC to my living room PC so I can do some file transfers but I don't want to add security software to my HTPC.

Currently my HTPC has no networking installed and doesn't connect to the internet or anything like that. The living room pc is where I surf the net and it has security software such as firewall, virus, adware and so on.

Can I network my HTPC for the purpose of file shareing without adding that layer of security software? Any thoughts or tips appreciated.

Thanks and Good Luck,

Brian[/QUOTE]

Unless you're using dialup, the easiest solution would likely be to put a cheap router between your living room PC and the internet, and connect both your living room PC and your HTPC to the router. This would allow you to offload firewall duties to the router, and let you use simple Windows File Sharing on your internal network to share files.

[Brian Hampton]

Hi,

Thanks,.. I have a Netgear Wireless router. I believe it has some type of built in firewall feature. I suppose if I dis-abled the wireless part (if that's possible becuase I have no current use for it) and setup the firewall and then established passwords and such for the drive in the HTPC and did not use the HTPC for surfing I would be all set,...

Anyway,.. Sounds good. I'll look into it.

Thanks Again,

Brian

[Suntan]

I have pretty much the setup you explained and that is how i run it. I do not have AV on my HTPC, but I do run a simple firewall on it (mostly to keep crap programs on the HTPC from accessing the internet.)

If you can't disable your wireless, put a tin can over the antenna...

-Suntan

[Brian Hampton]

It's easy to turn off the wireless part (till we eventally buy a new laptop.)

-Brian