Security Question: Shared Files on a Network

Security Question from a Network Newbie
Hi:
I recently returned from a meeting at a large city hotel.While at the meeting, I used the fancy hotel’s hard-wired connection to access the internet. Imagine my surprise when the next morning one of the others peakers mentioned to me, “I see that you were in the hotel; your computer was file shared to everyone in the hotel”!
How can this be? I have never changed default settings toallow this.
Does this mean that anyone in the hotel could have navigated to any file on my computer and accessed it?
How do I prevent this from ever happening again, yet still maintain my ability to access the internet and get work done?
Thank you!
OS 10.6.8

Just have Printer sharing and Bluetooth sharing checked in Sharing.
I really appreciate your advice and realize you have nothing to do with Apple's design process, but why would Apple allow others to see your computer on a network when one has a firewall turned on and "Block all incoming connections" enabled? What good does this serve in an era when everyone is so concerned about security? Why would Apple allow this?
How worried should I be: you say "they could see your System but not necessarily access your files. Probably just the public dropbox." Is it likely that they could just get the public dropbox, or could some nefarious individual figure a way to access other files?
Is there an OEM software product that allows good secuirty on an Apple system, ie no sharing of files/access to one's computer with certainty?
Thanks again for your advice!

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Network Map > http://scubasblog.com/network.jpg
Dell Support Forum with same issue I posted >> http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/network-internet-wireless/f/3324/p/19337620/19716797.asp...

It sounds like there is incompatibility issue with XP and Win7. To isolate this, do you have another Win7 machine? Try to add it to the network and check if the shared drives are accessible after sleep. If you don't have another computer, try virtual machine and create a Win7 system.
Update your LAN card driver from the manufacturer's site. Don't use the driver from windows update.
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Security Question: Shared Files on a Network

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