What Protects Against Insecure Device Communications?

Which of the following provides the best protection against unwanted or insecure communications to and from a device?

  1. System hardening
  2. Host-based firewall Source Reference Answer
  3. Intrusion detection system
  4. Anti-malware software

Community Votes

B
100%

100% of anonymous learners picked answer B. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Community Insight

This question tests the distinction between active traffic filtering and passive detection, with the common trap being selecting an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) which only monitors traffic rather than blocking it.

A host-based firewall is the primary defense for controlling inbound and outbound traffic on a specific device. The community consensus confirms it is superior to detection systems or general hardening for stopping insecure communications.

Selecting 'System hardening' is a common error because it implies security, but it refers to reducing the attack surface via configuration rather than actively filtering network traffic.

Community Discussion (3 comments)

9149f41 👍 1 Selected: B
Host-based firewall= both detection and protection. IDS- only detection.
Fourgehan 👍 3 Selected: B
A host-based firewall is designed to control inbound and outbound traffic to and from a device (such as a computer or server). It provides a barrier by filtering network traffic based on a set of predefined security rules, effectively blocking unwanted or insecure communications. It can prevent malicious network traffic from reaching the device, which helps protect it from various network-based attacks
dnn_cbops 👍 1 Selected: B
I go for a host based firewall in this case

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Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

A host-based firewall is specifically designed to control inbound and outbound traffic for an individual device. It acts as a barrier that filters network packets based on predefined security rules, effectively blocking unauthorized or insecure connections. This active filtering capability makes it the best choice for protecting against unwanted communications.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

System hardening involves reducing the attack surface by disabling unused services and applying patches, but it does not actively filter network traffic. An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is passive; it detects and alerts on suspicious activity but does not prevent it. Anti-malware software focuses on scanning for and removing malicious software files rather than managing network communications.

Community Comment Notes

Commenter [1] explains that a host-based firewall provides a barrier by filtering traffic based on rules, preventing malicious traffic from reaching the device. Commenter [2] highlights the critical difference that firewalls offer both detection and protection, whereas an IDS only provides detection. Commenter [3] agrees that a host-based firewall is the correct solution for this scenario.

Official Reference

Exam Strategy

Look for keywords like 'to and from' or 'communications' to identify questions requiring a firewall solution. Remember that detection systems (like IDS) alert you to problems, while firewalls actively block them.

Related Analysis

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