What data security concerns do IoT devices pose?

• A. The device being hijacked to harm another device or system.
• B. They can always update firmware securely.
• C. Because they are small and low powered, they can't carry much software including security software leaving them open to data theft or disruption.
• D. The devices being small and embedded into objects makes them easily vandalised or stolen.

Answer: (C)

IoT devices face data security challenges due to their small, low-powered nature. Limited processing power, memory, and energy budget mean they can’t reliably run robust security software, support strong encryption, store credentials securely, or perform frequent, secure firmware updates. Those constraints make it easier for data to be stolen or for services to be disrupted, because security features are often lighter-weight or depend on external systems that can become vulnerable. While hijacking a device or physical vandalism are real risks, the fundamental issue tied to data security is that these constrained devices struggle to implement and maintain strong protections on their own.