Ok, when I review my Firewall Network Connections, I typically see firefox.exe, which makes sense as I'm on the internet using that browser. Sometimes I see AvastSvc.exe and sometimes I don't; which also makes sense, I guess.
My questions arise when I click on "Detailed View". There I see listed the following:
AvastSvc.exe
AvastUI.exe (it disappears after a while)
firefox.exe
lsass.exe
mDNSResponder.exe
services.exe
svchost.exe
System
wininit.exe
Now, I think I understand why the two Avast executables are there. (Avast is working.)
I think I understand why firefox is there. (I'm browsing online.)
mDNSResponder.exe, I understand comes from Itunes Bonjour service. (I plan on stopping this in services at some point because I don't use Bonjour.)
As for the others listed:
lsass.exe;
services.exe;
svchost.exe;
System; and
wininit.exe
I think I understand that these are Windows' Default Listening Ports, yes? But why, exactly, do these have to have an open connection/port all the time? If I disconnect from the internet, my computer still runs just fine, so why do these items need to be in the Network Connections "listening" all the time?
Would Windows 7 crumble and fall if I stopped these from listening? Is it even possible to stop these from listening and perpetually keeping those ports open? Does the continuous listening of these Windows items through those ports pose a security risk?
Many thanks in advance for any guidance. (And apologies if this is totally noob question.
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