The Next Window

One of my newsletter subscribers wrote me to ask:

To improve security when using Wi-Fi at a coffee shop or traveling, I’ve seen advice to uninstall “File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks” on the active wireless connection in the Properties menu of Control Panel Network Connections. Is it necessary to do this – is there any downside to uninstalling this? Would it be sufficient to uncheck the box, or do I need to fully uninstall it?

I guess another way of asking this question is, What is the purpose of this Sharing feature? I’m reluctant to delete something I might need.

Also, do I need to do make this change every time I go to a new hotspot (or even to the same hotspot), or will once do it for all future Wi-Fi logins?

Read my response and advice in my article Wi-Fi Hotspots and Computer Security

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