In network security, what does a Snort rule primarily do?

• A. Encrypts traffic
• B. Detects and prevents specific exploits or attacks.
• C. Routes packets to the firewall
• D. Logs all traffic for auditing purposes only

Answer: (B)

Snort rules are signature-based checks that inspect packet payloads and headers to identify patterns associated with known attacks. The strength of these rules is that they can raise alerts when traffic matches a rule in IDS mode, and can actively block that traffic in inline IPS mode, effectively preventing the exploit from reaching its target. This is why the primary purpose is to detect and prevent specific exploits or attacks. They aren’t for encrypting traffic, routing packets, or simply logging all traffic—their main function is to recognize and stop malicious activity in real time (when configured to inline).