Can someone help me with this?
I searched the web and I seem to have found this command but it doesn't seem to work?
And is there a way to check if NETBIOS TCP/IP is disabled/enabled?
"sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.netbiosd.plist"
Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.0.x)
In general Macs do not open network ports or have services running unless either they are absolutely necessary e.g. DNS lookups, or you turn the relevant service on. So the first thing to do is check your File Sharing settings. Based on your description it sounds like File Sharing is enabled (ticked).
If 'Share files and folders using SMB' is ticked this will cause NetBIOS to run and use those network ports and also likely port 445
If 'Share files and folders using AFP' is tucked this will cause Apple File Sharing to run and use network port 548
It sounds like you want to un-tick the SMB option.
You may also want to make sure the built-in Firewall is turned on since you seem to be concerned about network security.
In general Macs do not open network ports or have services running unless either they are absolutely necessary e.g. DNS lookups, or you turn the relevant service on. So the first thing to do is check your File Sharing settings. Based on your description it sounds like File Sharing is enabled (ticked).
If 'Share files and folders using SMB' is ticked this will cause NetBIOS to run and use those network ports and also likely port 445
If 'Share files and folders using AFP' is tucked this will cause Apple File Sharing to run and use network port 548
It sounds like you want to un-tick the SMB option.
You may also want to make sure the built-in Firewall is turned on since you seem to be concerned about network security.
I understand that BIOS is something used in PC.
As a security measure, I want to disable NetBios for TCP/IP on my Mac.
After a bit of google search, I see that it's using ports 137, 138 and 139.
Why would I turn off SMB and would that effect anything else?
SMB is a name for the protocol Microsoft use for file sharing just like AFP is the name use for the protocol.
SMB includes using NetBIOS as both are part of the suite of protocols used for Windows File Sharing. Therefore if you turn off SMB you turn off NetBIOS.
Microsoft like making things un-necessarily complicated. Not only do we have SMB and NetBIOS but there is also CIFS. Contrast this to Apple which has just AFP and nothing but AFP. 😕 Microsoft also like constantly renaming the same thing in the false hope this will magically make the product more attractive. Messenger had more names than version numbers!
So try turning SMB off.
BIOS is something used in PCs. Macs tend to use a different method.
What are you trying to accomplish?
How do I disable NetBios TCP/IP?
