What is the purpose of a firewall in cyber-security?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — B, To block unauthorized access to a network. A firewall is a network-security system — hardware, software, or both — that monitors incoming and outgoing traffic and blocks connections that don't meet defined security rules, acting as a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks like the internet.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) This is the opposite of a firewall's purpose — a firewall restricts and filters access; it does not allow unrestricted access.  (c) Backing up data is the job of backup/recovery systems, not a firewall — a firewall's role is traffic filtering, not data storage.  (d) Wrong — option (b) correctly describes a firewall's purpose.

Concept: A firewall enforces a security boundary by inspecting network traffic against a rule-set and blocking anything unauthorized, while permitting legitimate traffic through. It is a preventive, access-control tool — distinct from backup systems (data recovery) or antivirus software (malware detection on a device).

State PCS 2023 Q45 — Science & Technology PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2023 Q45 — Science & Technology PYQ with Answer