Hiding my computer from other computers on the LAN

My neighborhood shares a wi-fi connection. When some neighbors see my computer is connected to the network, they assume I'm awake and accepting visitors. I want to prevent my computer from appearing when you click on Network and all PC's and connected devices appear.

I'm running Windows 8. I opened a command prompt and entered net config server /hidden:yes and "the command was completed successfully". I then restarted my computer and logged onto the network, however my PC is still visible along with the other computers and devices connected to the network.

What additional steps must I take to accomplish this task?

Thanks in advance for any help provided.

"It's nobody's business when I'm awake and online" in Tacoma.

patagriff said:

My neighborhood shares a wi-fi connection. When some neighbors see my computer is connected to the network, they assume I'm awake and accepting visitors. I want to prevent my computer from appearing when you click on Network and all PC's and connected devices appear.

I'm running Windows 8. I opened a command prompt and entered net config server /hidden:yes and "the command was completed successfully". I then restarted my computer and logged onto the network, however my PC is still visible along with the other computers and devices connected to the network.

What additional steps must I take to accomplish this task?

Thanks in advance for any help provided.

"It's nobody's business when I'm awake and online" in Tacoma.

Click to expand...

Hi there
You can I think turn On or Off Network discovery in W8.

Tutorial again from one of the great admins on this Forum Brink / Shawn.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/9840-network-discovery-turn-off-windows-8-a.html
Cheers
jimbo

As Jimbo pointed out, turning off network discovery will keep the other network users from accessing file shares on your machine but they may still be able to see you on the network. You also won't be able to access your own networked machines if this setting is turned off.

If you really want to stay completely hidden you should set up a different Workgroup name for all of your networked machines. The default name "Workgroup" is what everyone else is using because it's the default setting and nobody really changes it.
However, if you use a different Workgroup name then nobody will be able to see or access your machines, even if they are on the same network.

If you wanted even greater network security while hiding your networked machines from the others, you would set up a Homegroup between your personal networked machines then also use a different name for the Workgroup.

Workgroup Name - View and Change - Windows 7 Help Forums

Change your computer name to the last name of someone that lives on your street that nobody likes

sml156 said:

Change your computer name to the last name of someone that lives on your street that nobody likes

Click to expand...

...lol...



Very good one !

There are some on the block who would say it's already named after someone they don't like.

Thanks for the insightful suggestions. As usual, the community sharing knowledge concept simply works. Peace.

I did as you suggested and changed the name of my networked computers from Workgroup. I can no longer seen any of the other computers that share wi-fi, so I should be safe in assuming that they can no longer see mine.

patagriff said:

There are some on the block who would say it's already named after someone they don't like.

Thanks for the insightful suggestions. As usual, the community sharing knowledge concept simply works. Peace.

I did as you suggested and changed the name of my networked computers from Workgroup. I can no longer seen any of the other computers that share wi-fi, so I should be safe in assuming that they can no longer see mine.

Click to expand...

Yes you can be sure that others in the same network can't see you or access your machine.

Changing the workgroup name provides a extra layer of security that few are aware of.

Setting up a Homegroup actually creates a Domain within the Workgroup so it also provides another layer of security for the LAN.

Please mark as solved.

You could also set up a virtual private network (VPN) connection. When I turn on VPN for one of my systems, the other systems on my home network can't see it at all.