Firewall "allow" question

[randyrayd]

After some M$ updates and solving some IE issues, when booting my firewall suddenly starting asking permission for some programs. I know svchost needs permission to connect but why would spoolsv need to connect to the internet and should I allow this? Isn't this program associated with my printer?

I have tried to print anything since denying the new alert.

Win2000Pro, IE6, HP officejet v40xi EZ Firewall from Computer Associates (almost identical to ZoneAlarm, maybe same company?)

Thanks,
Randall

 

[compaquser]

After some M$ updates and solving some IE issues, when booting my firewall suddenly starting asking permission for some programs. I know svchost needs permission to connect but why would spoolsv need to connect to the internet and should I allow this? Isn't this program associated with my printer?

I have tried to print anything since denying the new alert.

Win2000Pro, IE6, HP officejet v40xi EZ Firewall from Computer Associates (almost identical to ZoneAlarm, maybe same company?)

Thanks,
Randall

You should allow the program to internet access since this is not harmful to your pc and may need to configure to work properly.

 

[randyrayd]

You should allow the program to internet access since this is not harmful to your pc and may need to configure to work properly.

Thank you for your reply. I believe it may be harmful to my computer since that port will now be open, at least as I understand it, which of course may be an erroneous understanding. I do have a router in place which should lessen any vulnerability.

I still have need to ask the question: Should my Spooler Subsystem need access to the internet? It's strange to me, but I'm a strange person, also not as computer savvy as many here.

Thanks,
Randall