(ISC)2 Certified in Cybersecurity Practice Exam

What is port 143 used for?

1. NetBIOS

2. SSH

3. IMAP

4. SMTP

The correct answer is: IMAP

Port 143 is used for the Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP). IMAP allows email clients to access and manage their email on a mail server. It enables users to retrieve and manipulate their messages while keeping them stored on the server, allowing for greater flexibility as users can access their emails from multiple devices without downloading them. This contrasts with the Post Office Protocol (POP), which typically downloads emails and may discard them from the server. IMAP supports multiple operations such as folder management, message searching, and stateful interactions, meaning the server remembers the state of messages (read, unread, etc.). This is critical for users who may need to manage their email from various platforms or locations. Other protocols listed have different purposes: NetBIOS is associated with networking in Windows environments, SSH is used for secure remote login, and SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is the protocol used for sending emails, typically operating over port 25. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the role of each port and protocol in network communications.