Question 73

Data theft is the most likely issue to occur on unencrypted devices.

Unencrypted devices are particularly vulnerable to data theft, as sensitive information stored on them can be easily accessed by unauthorized individuals. Without encryption, data is stored in a readable format, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals.

A) Data theft

Data theft is the correct answer because unencrypted devices do not protect sensitive information from unauthorized access. Hackers can easily exploit the lack of encryption to steal personal data, financial information, or confidential files, leading to severe privacy breaches.

B) Malware infection

While malware infection can occur on any device, it is not specifically tied to whether a device is encrypted or not. Encrypted devices can still be infected with malware, and malware does not solely rely on the encryption status to infiltrate a device.

C) Network spoofing

Network spoofing involves impersonating a legitimate network to intercept data and is not directly related to whether a device is encrypted. This type of attack can affect both encrypted and unencrypted devices, as it primarily targets network vulnerabilities rather than the encryption status of the device itself.

D) Brute-force attack

A brute-force attack targets authentication mechanisms, such as passwords, rather than exploiting unencrypted data directly. While brute-force attacks can happen on any device, they do not specifically correlate with the lack of encryption, making them less relevant to the context of unencrypted devices.

Conclusion

In summary, data theft stands out as the most significant risk for unencrypted devices due to the straightforward accessibility of sensitive information. The other options—malware infection, network spoofing, and brute-force attacks—while potentially harmful, do not specifically arise from the absence of encryption, making them less appropriate answers in this context.