What does a web filter do?

A web filter is a critical cybersecurity tool that primarily functions to block access to websites that contain malicious content. This role is vital for protecting users and their devices from potential threats such as malware, phishing attacks, and other harmful online activities. By preventing access to these dangerous sites, web filters help reduce the risk of data breaches and maintain the integrity of the network.

While inspecting hardware for vulnerabilities, scanning emails for attachments, and creating backups of web traffic are also important aspects of cybersecurity, they pertain to different areas of network and information security. For instance, hardware inspections focus on identifying weaknesses in physical devices, email scans aim to detect suspicious attachments that could pose a security threat, and backups are typically related to data recovery rather than filtering web content. Each of these functions plays a role in a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, but the specific task of blocking access to harmful websites is where the web filter excels.