Final answer:
The best options for preventing other devices on a public WiFi network from accessing a laptop are a host-based firewall and a VPN, as they provide direct network security measures.
Step-by-step explanation:
To prevent other devices on a public WiFi network from directly accessing a pharmaceutical sales representative's laptop, the best choices would be:
- B. A host-based firewall - This software-based firewall is installed directly on the user's device. It monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on an applied rule set and provides a barrier between a secure internal network and untrusted external networks, such as the Internet.
- E. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) - A VPN encrypts all data traffic from the laptop before it travels over the public WiFi network. This makes it much more difficult for unauthorized users to intercept or access the data being sent from the laptop.
While a Trusted Platform Module, DLP (Data Loss Prevention) solution, Full disk encryption, and Antivirus software also provide security benefits, they do not prevent direct access to the device from a network standpoint. The Trusted Platform Module is more for secure hardware authentication, Full disk encryption protects data at rest, a DLP solution prevents data leaks, and Antivirus software protects against malware but not unauthorized network access.