Which type of filtering differs from content filtering?

Packet filtering is a technique used in network security that focuses on analyzing the headers of packets to determine whether they should be allowed through or blocked by a firewall. This method operates at a lower level in the OSI model, specifically at the network layer, and it filters traffic based on attributes such as source and destination IP addresses, port numbers, and the protocol used.

This is in contrast to content filtering, which examines the actual data within the packets to determine whether the content is permissible or not. Content filtering can block access to specific types of content based on keywords, phrases, or file types, thereby providing a more granular level of control over the information being transmitted.

By understanding packet filtering and its focus on packet attributes instead of content, one can appreciate how it serves a different purpose in network security compared to content filtering.