Connecting to an Xbox 360??

[Pee]

I use wireless BB and for the last few days I'm getting a message saying that "A new Xbox 360 has been detected. Double click here (on an icon) to connect to this computer". Anyone know what this is and do I need to connect? If I right click on the icon it says open Media Centre - this is a package I got with my laptop which I use to view my pics/dvds.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Technologist]

The first question must be 'do you own an XBox with a wireless adaptor?'

If not, it sounds like your wireless LAN is open to all comers.

If you do, then the software which allows an XBox to stream audio from a PC is part of media centre and is also part of Media Player 11.

You just need to give permission for the Xbox to access your media library....assuming it is your XBox that is.

 

[Pee]

The first question must be 'do you own an XBox with a wireless adaptor?' - No

If not, it sounds like your wireless LAN is open to all comers. - I don't so, at least I hope not - how do I check? I think I had to use a password to allow my laptop to use my wireless BB.

If you do, then the software which allows an XBox to stream audio from a PC is part of media centre and is also part of Media Player 11.

You just need to give permission for the Xbox to access your media library....assuming it is your XBox that is.

Thanks for you response, please see my replies (in blue above) to your queries.

 

[Technologist]

It depends on how your Windows is set up so it's hard to describe, but look for an option associated with your network connection titled 'View Wireless Networks'. See what it says about yours, it might show a padlock or it might say 'secure connection'. If it says 'unsecured wireless network', that's not good. Another possibility is that your PC has wandered over onto someone else's wireless broadband and their's is not secure. Either way, if you're on an insecure wireless network, your computer's soul is in mortal danger. All kinds of bad things can happen. Pray that your firewall is working.

 

[Pee]

It depends on how your Windows is set up so it's hard to describe, but look for an option associated with your network connection titled 'View Wireless Networks'. See what it says about yours, it might show a padlock or it might say 'secure connection'. Mine says secure.
If it says 'unsecured wireless network', that's not good. Another possibility is that your PC has wandered over onto someone else's wireless broadband and their's is not secure. I was using wireless BB in a hotel for an evening lately, this is where the Xbox first appeared.
Either way, if you're on an insecure wireless network, your computer's soul is in mortal danger. All kinds of bad things can happen. Pray that your firewall is working. Worse - I don't think I have a firewall, I use Norton AV, not sure if this is also a firewall

Firelwall - If Nortons doesn't do the job, what should I get?
Xbox connection - once I didn't allow connection should I have been ok?

 

[Technologist]

Norton is will do it very nicely & more. It may be over-kill, if your machine does not have file-sharing activated. You probably already have some adequate protection from the Windows firewall assuming you've got XPSP2.

A 3rd-party software firewall is useful when you use a mixture of networks and want to trust some and not others. They also keep an eye out for 'spyware' which might have sneaked onto your machine and is phoning home

I take it that the phantom Xbox is not now showing when you're on your home broadband? Another precaution: examine your list of wireless networks and delete the settings for any 'casual' connections, such as at the hotel.

Even if you had allowed the XBox to connect, I doubt if much harm could have happened. At worst some child might have been subjected to your collection of Bulgarian folk music.

 

[Pee]

Norton is will do it very nicely & more. It may be over-kill, if your machine does not have file-sharing activated. You probably already have some adequate protection from the Windows firewall assuming you've got XPSP2.

A 3rd-party software firewall is useful when you use a mixture of networks and want to trust some and not others. They also keep an eye out for 'spyware' which might have sneaked onto your machine and is phoning home

I take it that the phantom Xbox is not now showing when you're on your home broadband? Another precaution: examine your list of wireless networks and delete the settings for any 'casual' connections, such as at the hotel.

Even if you had allowed the XBox to connect, I doubt if much harm could have happened. At worst some child might have been subjected to your collection of Bulgarian folk music.

Thanks for your help, feel a bit more secure now.