Windows 8 comes with different network settings so you can control who has access to what network resources on your devices.
Three types of networks are defined:
• Private. Your
private network would be a home network on which you are the only user
or on which other members of the network are trusted.
• Guest or Public. Guest or public network sharing is restricted to reduce the possibility of access to sensitive resources.
• All Networks. This profile controls access to public folders, media streaming options, file sharing, and password protection.
Among the sharing settings you can control
are network discovery, file and printer sharing, HomeGroup
connectivity, media streaming, and password protection. Network
discovery allows your computer to be seen on the network by others and
allows your computer to find other devices. Turning off network
discovery provides some measure of protection. These settings also
allow you to share files on the network, encrypt file transfers, and
make sure that people authenticate themselves with a user ID and
password to gain access to your files.
Folders, printers, and even entire drives can
be shared over a network. You share these objects by opening their
Properties dialog box and creating the share on the Sharing tab.
To access sharing settings
1. Open the Network and Sharing Center panel, and tap or click the Change advanced sharing settings link in the left pane.
2. Select the profile you wish to alter .
The Private sharing profile settings in the Advanced Sharing Settings dialog box
3. Select the options you wish to turn on or off, then click the Save Changes button.
The Guest or Public sharing profile is the
most restrictive—you have control over only network discovery and file
and printer sharing. shows the settings available for All Networks.
The All Networks sharing profile contains options for access to network shares, media streaming, and password protection.
