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My (application) firewall settings are configured to block incoming connections from netbiosd. I don't recall setting this myself, and wonder what the consequences are.

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What are the consequences of blocking incoming connections for netbiosd? If I generally block incoming connections as a precaution, should I block netbiosd as well?

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netbiosd is responsible for interacting with NetBIOS networks. NetBIOS is Microsoft's networking service.

If you block incoming netbiosd connections then you will not be able to share drives over netbios which is the simplest way to share data to Windows machines.

If you generally block incoming connections as a precaution the you should block anything until you actually need it, that is until something breaks. So yes block netbiosd to beging with.

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So is it safe to say that if I have no Windows machines there will be no consequences? Also: I don't recall ever setting this; could it somehow have happened automatically? – raxacoricofallapatorius Feb 11 at 16:54
Will I still be able to use arbitrary networks (e.g., wifi in a client's conference room; hotel wifi) if I block netbiosd incoming connections? – raxacoricofallapatorius Feb 12 at 15:16
How are you using the networks netbiosd will affect Windows file sharing and possible windows authentication but not web use etc. – Mark Feb 12 at 15:18
I would be using the network exclusively for access outside of the hotel or client: cloud, mail, Web, etc. Some networks will require a password though, if that matters. – raxacoricofallapatorius Feb 12 at 15:20
→ raxacoricofallapatorius: you most probably blocked netbiosd access the first time you entered a Windows network where you were immediatly bombed by all Windows neighbor netbios broadcasting like a flock of geese. MacOS X asked you if you wanted to accept or block this unsollicited access. I bet that you blocked it. And this was an excellent reflex ☺! – daniel Azuelos May 10 at 8:16

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