Which statement is true regarding SNMP community strings during discovery?

The statement regarding SNMP community strings that is true is that the default read-only community string is often “public.” In many network configurations, particularly for various network devices such as switches and routers, the "public" community string is set by default for read-only access. This means that if no other community string has been configured, the system will use "public" to allow SNMP queries for monitoring purposes.

Understanding this default setting is crucial for network administrators when implementing SNMP for monitoring and management, as it allows them to access essential device information without additional configuration changes. However, relying on the default community string can pose security risks; hence, it is often recommended to change this default to something more secure to prevent unauthorized access.

The other options do not accurately reflect the nature of SNMP community strings. They may imply misconceptions about security, privileges, or data types associated with community strings. For example, while community strings are not encrypted and can be easily intercepted if not properly secured, the necessity for administrative privileges and the limitations on string format also do not hold true in the context of how SNMP functions.