This site is really good for security purpose. Well from this site i came to know that open netbios ports can be hacked by uploading victims ip in lmhost file. Well i use win98 microsoft networking without anyfirewall installed and sharing ports are enabled always. So i've following questions
Do any one could hack my network by lmhost file?
If i'll upgrade my network to win2000 pro than lmhost file method will work properly or not?
In case of win2000 when a hacker will try to connect to victims system than he will ask for some user name and password or not when i've not protected my shared ports with a password?
Hope for some good response.

Note:-i need no kiddies of installing firewalls.