NetBIOS/File Sharing over the Internet

[Xeratul]

I understand the dangers of File and Printer Sharing over the internet. Especially shares that are not password protected.
However is it possible to connect to remote machines \\xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx\Games over the internet not just on LANs?

I have a friend that lives in another state, and we want to share files with netbios.

He has all the resources shared, but I can't seem to connect to any resources outside of my lan.

[Backdated]

If you want to share files, set up a VPN or an FTP server. There are even very simple HTTP server interfaces avilable such as WWWFileshare Pro (I use this as an example but it has many vulnerabilities, hence no link).

[Rob Pomeroy]

I'd echo Backdated.  You CAN use NetBIOS/SMB shares over the internet, but ONLY do it via VPN.

In practice, latency makes NetBIOS over VPN rather unsatisfactory, even over broadband, so FTP is probably your better choice.

[Xeratul]

Ok, thanks. I haven't heard of a VPN before this. Going to have to do some research.

Before robpomeroy confirmed that you can use NetBIOS shares over the internet I was beginning to wonder. I wasn't finding any sites telling how to use them over the internet, only sites saying how to protect your self and the dangers of File and Printer Sharing.

Sidenote: Even though I'm not going to use NetBIOS, I heard that you could only password shares in Professional Edition. Do they have tools or something of the like that would allow a Home Edition user to protect their shares?

[Rob Pomeroy]

You can password protect shared folders on all versions of Windows from 95 onwards.  It's just that the level of security is rather poor in most versions.

[Backdated]

You could each get yourself [highlight]an FTP server[/highlight], [highlight]an FTP client[/highlight] and a dynamic DNS service such as [highlight]No-IP[/highlight] (Not necessary if you both have static IPs).
All of this can be done at no cost and files can be securely shared with transfer speeds limited only by each others upload speed.

I run an FTP server using Serv-U and No-IP without problem. My clients are able to download from me at 30K.