What component filters network traffic between a computer and the Internet?

A firewall is a crucial component that filters network traffic between a computer and the Internet. Its primary function is to monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. By doing so, it creates a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks, such as the Internet.

Firewalls can be hardware-based, software-based, or a combination of both, and they play a vital role in protecting devices from unauthorized access and various cyber threats. When data packets attempt to enter or leave a network, the firewall evaluates them against its set rules, allowing only the safe ones to pass through while blocking potentially harmful traffic.

In contrast, other options like routers, network switches, and modems perform different functions. Routers direct traffic within a network and connect multiple networks; network switches connect devices within the same network to facilitate communication; and modems modulate and demodulate signals for Internet connectivity. None of these functions include filtering traffic based on security protocols as effectively as a firewall does.