Who/what is affected by File and Printer Sharing?

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin (More info?)

Am I correct in understanding that "File and Printer Sharing" should only
affect what access a "computer" has to files and printers on another computer
on that network or some other network -- and that it should NOT affect what
access individual users/logons have to files and printers on the computer
where their logons are set up? My question may be a bit confusing, so I'll
clarify with a few examples. If I'm correct in undestanding the impact on
file and printer sharing in these three examples, I think I can figure out
the impact for other scenarios.

Thanks in advance for your help!!!


EXAMPLE #1
---------------
I don't have a network of any kind, but I do have multiple user
accounts/logons set up on the one computer I have -- some are administrator
accounts, some are limited accounts. My computer is used to connect to the
internet via a dial-up connection.

In this example, if I do NOT have File and Printer Sharing selected as an
exception in Windows Firewall, am I correct in understanding...
* This should help block access to my files and printer from other
computers on the internet?
* This should not have any impact on file and printer access for the
accounts/logons set up on my computer?


EXAMPLE #2
---------------
I have a network set up, but it's only between a desktop and a laptop. Only
the desktop has a printer, and the desktop is used to connect to the internet
via a dial-up connection.The two computers are not always connected to each
other -- when they are, they are connected directly via a cable. I have
multiple user accounts/logons set up on both computers -- some are
administrator accounts, some are limited accounts.

In this example:
A) If I do NOT have File and Printer Sharing selected as an exception in
Windows Firewall on either machine, am I correct in understanding this will...
* Prevent both machines from accessing files on the other?
* Prevent the laptop from accessing the printer on the desktop?
* Prevent the laptop from accessing the internet via the desktop?
* Help prevent a computer on the internet from accessing the files on
either machine and from accessing the printer on the desktop?
* Not have any impact on the files and printers that user accounts/logons
can access on the computers where the accounts are set up?


EXAMPLE #3
---------------
Same setup as in example #2, except for file and printer sharing.

In this example:
A) If I DO have File and Printer Sharing selected as an exception in
Windows Firewall on the desktop only, am I correct in understanding this
will...
* Allow the laptop to access files and printers on the desktop?
* Prevent the deskotp from accessing files on the laptop?
* Allow the laptop to access the internet via the desktop?
* Potentially allow computers on the internet to access files and printers
on the desktop?
* Help prevent computers on the internet from accessing files on the laptop?
* Not have any impact on the files and printers that user accounts/logons
can access on the computers where the accounts are set up?

--
So much to learn... So little time.