joe-lee & stevejrc, both ashMaiSv.exe and ashWebSv.exe are by design server-type applications. They act as a (proxy) server for your mail client and Internet browser (i.e. “pick up incoming calls” from these programs). They then re-route the request to the real servers on the Internet and return the result to your mail client / browser.

This is a classic concept of a proxy. You may find more about this on the Internet.

Thanks
Vlk