Palo Alto Networks (PANW) System Engineer (PSE) Practice Exam

Which security service assists file safety by automatically detecting unknown malware?

1. URL Filtering

2. WildFire

3. App-ID

4. Threat Prevention

The correct answer is: WildFire

WildFire is the security service that automatically detects unknown malware and assists in file safety. It utilizes advanced analysis techniques, including sandboxing, to evaluate files and determine if they contain malicious payloads. Once a file is submitted, it is executed in a controlled environment, allowing the service to observe its behavior. If malicious activity is detected, WildFire can then generate signatures to protect users across the Palo Alto Networks ecosystem, enabling real-time threat prevention. This proactive approach is critical for identifying and mitigating zero-day threats—malware that has not yet been identified or publicly disclosed. In contrast, URL Filtering focuses on blocking access to harmful websites, App-ID identifies and classifies applications to enforce policies, and Threat Prevention addresses known vulnerabilities and attacks through a different set of techniques. Thus, WildFire stands out with its specific capability to target unknown malware through behavior analysis.