| Setting up Your Home NetworkAs society
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| | network resources must still be shared so
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| and technology change, it's becoming
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| | that other computers can access them. If
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| common for homes to have more than one
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| | you are running Windows XP or MacOS X,
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| computer. When an existing computer is a
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| | all you have to do is connect your
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| few years old, parents will often take
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| | computers and high-speed modem to the
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| advantage of today's lower prices,
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| | router, and Internet connection sharing
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| purchase a new computer, and pass the old
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| | should just work like magic. If not,
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| one down to the kids.Suddenly, there's a
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| | restart the cable modem, router, and the
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| need for a home network, so all computers
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| | computers (in that order) and see if that
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| in the house can share an files, printers
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| | does the trick. If you can't access the
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| and an Internet connection. Fortunately,
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| | Internet from one or more computers on
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| setting up a basic home network is not
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| | the network, consult the manual that came
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| rocket science. To start, you'll need a
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| | with your router.One nice side benefit of
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| router which becomes the central point of
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| | having a router is that they have
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| your network. Most office and
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| | firewalls built in to the hardware.
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| electronics stores offer home networking
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| | Firewalls protect you by hiding your
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| kits with a router, ethernet (network)
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| | computers from network attacks, but still
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| adapters and CAT-5 networking cable.If
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| | allow you to surf the web and handle
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| your computer was assembled in the past
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| | email. So after installing a router, you
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| five years, it probably already has an
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| | can turn OFF the Windows firewall and any
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| ethernet adapter. Check the back of the
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| | other software-based firewalls you may
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| system unit for a port that looks like a
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| | have running.Sharing Files and
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| telephone jack, but slightly bigger.If
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| | PrintersSharing files and printers on a
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| you don't have an ethernet adapter, you
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| | Windows network is also pretty painless.
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| can purchase one (about $20) and install
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| | To share a printer, go into the Printers
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| it yourself. You can also use a special
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| | section of the Control Panel, right-click
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| ethernet adapter that plugs into a USB
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| | the icon for the printer that needs to be
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| port, if you can't stand the thought of
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| | shared, and choose Sharing from the
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| opening your system unit to install an
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| | resulting menu. By assigning a name to
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| ethernet adapter.Wired or Wireless
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| | the shared printer, the owner allows
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| Networking?You'll need to connect each of
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| | other computers on the network to access
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| your computers to the router with a
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| | the printer by browsing using their
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| cable, or go wireless. If you want to
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| | Network Neighborhood (or My Network
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| use wireless connections, you'll need a
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| | Places) icons. Access can be restricted
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| wireless router and a wireless adapter
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| | to only some computers or users through
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| for each computer. Most laptops have a
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| | the use of the Security or Permissions
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| wireless adapter built in, most desktop
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| | options on the Sharing screen.The same
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| models do not. If you need a wireless
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| | concept applies for shared file and
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| adapter, you can purchase one that
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| | folders on a network. For example, if
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| installs inside the system unit, or get a
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| | you want to share a collection of MP3
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| USB-style adapter.Having a wireless
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| | files on a home network, just browse to
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| network eliminates the need to string
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| | the folder using the My Computer icon,
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| unsightly cables all around the house,
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| | right-click the folder name and choose
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| but it can also create a security risk.
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| | Sharing. After assigning a name to the
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| Wireless networks are often configured by
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| | shared resource and setting Permissions
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| default to allow access to any computer
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| | other computers on the network can access
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| that attempts to connect. So an Evil
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| | that resource via Network Neighborhood or
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| Hacker driving by with a laptop (or even
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| | My Network Places.BOB RANKIN... is a tech
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| your neighbor) might be able to tap into
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| | writer and computer programmer who enjoys
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| your Internet connection or poke around
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| | exploring the Internet and sharing the
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| your hard disk.Fortunately, wireless
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| | fruit of his experience with others. His
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| security encryption is easy to set up.
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| | work has appeared in ComputerWorld,
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| See my article Wireless Security for
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| | NetGuide, and NY Newsday. Bob is
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| step-by-step instructions.Network
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| | publisher of the Internet TOURBUS
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| ConfigurationWhether the network signals
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| | newsletter, author of several computer
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| travel through wires or through the air,
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| | books, and creator of the website.
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