You are conducting a security audit. While reviewing configuration files and logs, you notice logs accepting POP3 traffic, but you do not see a rule allowing POP3 traffic in the Rule Base. Which of…

A disabled rule is not enforced by the gateway at all, so it would not cause POP3 traffic to be accepted and logged.

Check Point Global Properties does not include a default acceptance of POP3 traffic; it controls features like NAT, authentication, and VPN settings rather than application-layer mail protocols.

Hidden rules in Check Point SmartDashboard exist as active, enforced policy entries that the gateway processes normally. They are deliberately concealed from the standard Rule Base display using the 'Hide' feature, which explains why POP3 traffic is logged and accepted despite no visible rule. An auditor must explicitly choose to show hidden rules to discover them.

The default mail object in R77 does not automatically accept POP3 traffic on its own - it requires an explicit rule in the Rule Base referencing it to permit that traffic.