Question: What is the primary purpose of generating a FRESH value by the Radio Network Controller (RNC) in 3G security protocols, given its 32-bit length and potential reuse of integrity keys across connections?
Option 1: To create a unique identifier for each User Equipment (UE) device.
Option 2: To encrypt data transmissions between the UE and the RNC.
Option 3: To prevent replay attacks by ensuring the freshness of Message Authentication Codes (MAC-Is).
Option 4: To manage session keys for secure communication handovers.
Explanation: The correct answer, Option 3, highlights the key role of FRESH in preventing replay attacks. By incorporating a fresh, random value into the MAC-I generation algorithm, the network can verify that the authentication codes are not reused from previous connections, thus ensuring the integrity of the communication. This is crucial for maintaining security in wireless networks where replay attacks could otherwise compromise the system.