Changing sharing settings in Windows 8.1

Hello,

I have got some questions about this tutorial on EightForums:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/9837-network-location-set-private-public-windows-8-a.html

I have a home network, several PCs connected to a modem/router (all with Ethernet cables), with ADSL access.
One PC has got Windows 8.1, with network settings as "private network", with sharing ("find devices and content") turned on. I am thinking about turning it off, to increase security, since I don't need to share files an printers.

My questions:
1) There is no risk to damage Windows by turning sharing on or off, with that "find devices and content" option in Windows 8.1?
2) After changing the sharing settings, I do not need to change any settings in Windows Firewall, such as resetting it to default?

I think there should be no problem, but would like some confirmations.
Thanks.

Rather than messing with the find devices and content setting, it may work best to go into the Advanced Sharing settings in the Network and Sharing Center, then turn off Network Discovery and File and Printer sharing for the Private Network settings. This controls all shares so ne need to mess with the firewall settings.

The Public sharing settings are for sharing through the Public folders as in C:>Users>Public

Do you mean that changing the "find devices and content" setting could bring problems, perhaps with Windows Firewall, whereas changing the "advanced sharing settings" would be safer?
Or are they both the same under this aspect, and you mean it's just a matter of what is easier for the user to change?
Thanks.

Thomas B said:

Do you mean that changing the "find devices and content" setting could bring problems, perhaps with Windows Firewall, whereas changing the "advanced sharing settings" would be safer?
Or are they both the same under this aspect, and you mean it's just a matter of what is easier for the user to change?
Thanks.

Click to expand...

Generally speaking you would control file sharing through the Advanced Sharing settings, they aren't the same settings at all really.

No need to mess with the firewall either, you can easily turn sharing back on with the same two settings.

What I would like to achieve, is to set my network setting from "private" to "public", to increase security. From what I have read and seen/heard, the "find devices and content" will do exactly this (and will disable file and printer sharing, and I believe also network discovery). You can see this from the screenshots inside that EightForums tutorial (under step 5).
I'm not sure if you mean that there could be problems when changing this "find devices and content" option.
Thanks.

Thomas B said:

What I would like to achieve, is to set my network setting from "private" to "public", to increase security. From what I have read and seen/heard, the "find devices and content" will do exactly this (and will disable file and printer sharing, and I believe also network discovery). You can see this from the screenshots inside that EightForums tutorial (under step 5).
I'm not sure if you mean that there could be problems when changing this "find devices and content" option.
Thanks.

Click to expand...

I believe that if you set up the connection as Public network it will restrict sharing automatically, I just gave you directions for turning sharing off for the Private Network.

Either way will work so there is more than one way to turn off sharing, take your pick depending on what you need.