The post below about my new laptop now has me asking how to disconnect my two desktop computers from the internet. I would like to still be able to use them for sharing printers, and my wife may still use her desktop for some scanning of office stuff as we are going to try to move to a more paperless office.
I purchased two Belkin N150 wireless usb adapters, and plan on using them to wirelessly act as print servers.
For those of you who have done this, what was the easiest way to maintain the ability to transfer files and share printers, but protect the older XP computers from internet access?
Heck, it would be great to not have to use the adapters, and prohibit internet access thru settings alone.
Thanks in advance,
Jimmy
Look at the controls for your router. You may have a section called parental controls, or the like. Try prohibiting internet access for the XP computers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether you can do this and still allow communication within your home network will depend on the features of your router.
A router in itself is generally considered as a firewall that protects the computers behind it if you are worried about attack from outside.
Running a software firewall will give belt and braces protection and can be configured to stop applications (or the OS) from "phoning home" if that is what you are concerned about.
I have never worried about it too much, maybe I should?
I suppose XP computers are considered to be vulnerable now?
I have read that (imagine phrases that edit filters would block here) have been saving up their tricks to use after support for XP ends.
Jimmy Cleveland,
I found this simple fix online. "Get rid of the default gateway info in the IP settings". I did that on 4/4/2014 and it worked great. I still have access to printers/scanners/network computers but no internet access.
Hope that helps.
(sorry for the 90 degree screenshot)
