A firewall’s primary function is to:

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks about the primary function of a firewall, so we evaluate each option in terms of the firewall’s core purpose.
Option a: Encrypt traffic. While encryption can be used to protect data in transit, it is not the firewall’s core role. Encryption is typically handled by encryption protocols and VPN technologies, not by the firewall’s access-control mechanism itself.
Option b: Filter network packets. This aligns with the fundamental purpose of many firewalls, which is to examine incoming and/or outgoing network packets according to predefined rules and either permit or block them. This packet-filtering capability is central to controlling traffic and enforcing security policies at the network boundary.
Option c: Store logs. Logging is a common feature of firewalls and important for monitoring and forensics, but it is a supporting function rather than the primary purpose. Logs complement firewall operation by providing records of decisions and events.
Option d: Detect viruses. Virus detection is typically the domain of antivirus software or intrusion detection systems. While some next-gen firewalls may include malware inspection features, detecting viruses is not the core, primary function of a traditional firewall, which focuses on traffic filtering and access control.
In summary, evaluating the core objective of a firewall shows that option b captures its main role in controlling and filtering traffic, whereas the other options describe valuable capabilities that are either auxiliary or belong to other security components.

A firewall’s primary function is to:Single choice

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