[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sphinx
[B]Im calling you on this. Computers ARE NOT wide open to the world, unless, said computer is run by an idiot that doesnt know any better. "

Sphinx, I agree with everything you said. I have no right to snoop. If I really feel that the files are accessible by mistake, I should stay out of them; and indeed, that is what I am doing. That is why I am here, trying to reach people who can help get the word out.

I hope you are right. But this is fact: I clicked Browse Host. It yielded all of the files on the Host computer. The owner of the Host computer was unaware of the presense of a file sharing program.
If Browse Host yields results, based on what you said, the files were deliberately offered to all comers to read or use as the reader sees fit. But based on what I have observed and reported here, the files are not supposed to be open and neither I nor anyone else, no matter how well-intentioned, should open any of them even in an attempt to contact and warn the owner. So again: That is why I am here, trying to reach people who can help get the word out.

I just talked, again, with the owner of the machine in question. She said that it is a new computer. That kills the idea of its having file sharing software left over from a previous owner.
So back to my first question: How can this happen, and how can it be prevented?
Argument, in the sense of debating the issues, is welcome. Asking why I am involved in this is reasonable, as none of you have ever heard of me. Expressing doubts as to my credibility or honesty or intentions is fair. Once. One shot each but, once answered, aspersions will not be responded to.
I am running LW 4.9.33 Pro, having just upgraded. I don't know what the previous version was, but it was 4.x pro.

Please, no more "It can't happen." It did. Now, how??
"Andy"