Assuming one leaves remote access and file sharing open, can someone provide a rough

[Baitball Blogger]

sketch of how easy it would be to get into someone's computer?

I'm a little concerned because, just now I tried to safely remove an external drive from my laptop and the computer message I kept getting claimed that a windows program was using it so I had to close that program first before I could safely remove the drive. But I wasn't accessing the drive from any program that I had opened. So I forced a shut down and then went back to see if I left remote assistance on, which I did. And File sharing was also open. Since I don't remember closing those two programs down, I'll assume that it is my responsibility that they were left open.

Just wondering if anyone knows what windows program would take ownership of an external drive? Maybe it was my anti-virus program that was scanning it?

[JDDavis]

1. In order to answer this question:

where do you live in relation to other WiFI devices?

Are you 300 yards away or 20 feet away?

You say "

I tried to safely remove an external drive from my laptop and the computer message I kept getting claimed that a windows program was using it so I had to close that program first before I could safely remove the drive. But I wasn't accessing the drive from any program that I had opened.

"

You opened access to your computer by simply plugging in that external device.

Windows kept that access path open for you to access on your own computer while the device was plugged-in. Windows sent out a general warning because it had opened several paths for you. You didn't use them, but they were open for Windows.

Now, back to the original question" how far away are you from another WiFi device? That is the only way something else was accessing your drive(s).

[Baitball Blogger]

2. There is one other wireless network that appears to be within range,

but I am assuming that the only way they can reach me through wireless is if they have the password.

I just assumed that remote assistance has a backdoor that doesn't need a password because I once allowed a customer service person to fix a problem on my computer using that program. But that was years ago and involved another computer.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. There's all kinds of things that could be holding it open

Antivirus, as you say, but also windows indexing, any other service or app that looks around at its environment and isn't well behaved enough to release resources when it's done.

You might want to give this a try to see how vulnerable you were/are:

https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

(Steve Gibson is a well-known good actor)

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Thanks Manny.

It was a happy accident, because I usually check to shut-off remote assistance and filesharing. I appreciate your confirmation that it could have been something legit.