1. What is the primary security risk associated with IoT firmware?
A) High power consumption
B) Unauthorized access and exploitation of vulnerabilities
C) Increased network latency
D) Difficulty in updating hardware
✅ Answer: B) Unauthorized access and exploitation of vulnerabilities
📌 Explanation: IoT firmware often contains security flaws that attackers can exploit to gain control over devices. Weak authentication, hardcoded credentials, and lack of encryption can lead to unauthorized access.
2. Which method is commonly used to reverse engineer IoT firmware?
A) Debugging software
B) Binary analysis
C) Protocol sniffing
D) Port scanning
✅ Answer: B) Binary analysis
📌 Explanation: Attackers and security researchers use binary analysis tools (such as Ghidra, IDA Pro) to decompile and analyze firmware binaries to find vulnerabilities.
3. What is a common way attackers gain access to IoT firmware?
A) Brute-forcing network encryption keys
B) Extracting firmware from flash memory
C) Sending phishing emails
D) Conducting denial-of-service (DoS) attacks
✅ Answer: B) Extracting firmware from flash memory
📌 Explanation: Attackers often extract firmware from IoT devices using techniques like JTAG, UART, or SPI flash dumping to analyze the code and identify security weaknesses.
4. Why is firmware signing important in IoT security?
A) It speeds up device boot time
B) It prevents unauthorized modifications to firmware
C) It compresses firmware files for better storage
D) It allows easy rollbacks to previous firmware versions
✅ Answer: B) It prevents unauthorized modifications to firmware
📌 Explanation: Firmware signing ensures that only manufacturer-approved firmware is installed, preventing attackers from injecting malicious code.
5. What type of attack occurs when a malicious firmware update is installed on an IoT device?
A) Buffer overflow
B) Man-in-the-Middle (MitM)
C) Supply chain attack
D) SQL Injection
✅ Answer: C) Supply chain attack
📌 Explanation: Attackers may compromise firmware updates by injecting malicious code during the manufacturing or distribution process, leading to unauthorized control over the device.
6. What is the primary function of Secure Boot in IoT devices?
A) To enable fast startup
B) To authenticate and verify the integrity of the bootloader
C) To improve device battery life
D) To encrypt all network communications
✅ Answer: B) To authenticate and verify the integrity of the bootloader
📌 Explanation: Secure Boot ensures that only trusted and signed firmware is loaded during device startup, preventing tampering or unauthorized code execution.
7. How can firmware vulnerabilities be discovered during penetration testing?
A) Using Shodan search engine
B) Performing firmware emulation and fuzz testing
C) Conducting a denial-of-service attack
D) Observing the LED indicators on the device
✅ Answer: B) Performing firmware emulation and fuzz testing
📌 Explanation: Security testers often emulate firmware in controlled environments and use fuzz testing tools to identify security flaws.
8. Which of the following is NOT a recommended best practice for securing IoT firmware?
A) Implementing firmware encryption
B) Using hardcoded credentials for authentication
C) Enforcing firmware integrity verification
D) Regularly updating firmware to patch vulnerabilities
✅ Answer: B) Using hardcoded credentials for authentication
📌 Explanation: Hardcoded credentials (e.g., default passwords) create a security risk because attackers can extract them from firmware dumps or leaked databases.
9. What is the role of a Watchdog Timer (WDT) in embedded systems security?
A) It prevents unauthorized access to the firmware
B) It detects and recovers from system crashes or hangs
C) It provides network-level encryption
D) It enables faster device booting
✅ Answer: B) It detects and recovers from system crashes or hangs
📌 Explanation: The watchdog timer resets the device if it becomes unresponsive due to a fault or an attack, improving system reliability.
10. Why should IoT firmware updates be delivered over secure channels?
A) To prevent unauthorized firmware downgrades
B) To reduce network congestion
C) To speed up the update process
D) To minimize power consumption during updates
✅ Answer: A) To prevent unauthorized firmware downgrades
📌 Explanation: Secure update mechanisms (e.g., HTTPS, TLS, or digitally signed updates) prevent attackers from installing outdated or malicious firmware versions.
11. What is Firmware Over-The-Air (FOTA)?
A) A method for wirelessly updating firmware on IoT devices
B) A security mechanism to detect firmware anomalies
C) A technique for encrypting firmware files
D) A network protocol for IoT data transmission
✅ Answer: A) A method for wirelessly updating firmware on IoT devices
📌 Explanation: FOTA allows devices to receive firmware updates remotely, ensuring security patches are deployed efficiently without physical access.
12. Which tool is commonly used to extract IoT firmware from binary images?
A) Metasploit
B) Binwalk
C) Nmap
D) Nikto
✅ Answer: B) Binwalk
📌 Explanation: Binwalk is a widely used tool for analyzing and extracting firmware from binary files, enabling researchers to inspect embedded system vulnerabilities.
13. What is the purpose of enabling Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) in IoT firmware?
A) To improve device battery efficiency
B) To make exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities more difficult
C) To enable faster processing of firmware instructions
D) To increase firmware storage capacity
✅ Answer: B) To make exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities more difficult
📌 Explanation: ASLR randomizes memory addresses used by the firmware, making it harder for attackers to predict and exploit memory corruption flaws.
14. Which of the following is a risk when an IoT device lacks rollback protection?
A) Increased battery usage
B) Attackers can install an older, vulnerable firmware version
C) The device will become non-functional after an update
D) The device cannot be factory reset
✅ Answer: B) Attackers can install an older, vulnerable firmware version
📌 Explanation: Without rollback protection, attackers can downgrade firmware to exploit previously patched vulnerabilities.
15. What is a side-channel attack in IoT security?
A) An attack that manipulates firmware updates
B) An attack that exploits indirect data leaks, such as power consumption or electromagnetic emissions
C) An attack that intercepts network traffic
D) An attack that targets weak encryption algorithms
✅ Answer: B) An attack that exploits indirect data leaks, such as power consumption or electromagnetic emissions
📌 Explanation: Side-channel attacks extract sensitive information by analyzing physical properties like power usage, timing, or electromagnetic radiation.
16. What is a key risk of failing to disable debugging interfaces in IoT firmware?
A) Increased power consumption
B) Unauthorized access and code execution
C) Slower device boot times
D) Limited firmware update capabilities
✅ Answer: B) Unauthorized access and code execution
📌 Explanation: Debugging interfaces like JTAG, UART, and SWD can be exploited by attackers to gain access to device memory, extract firmware, and execute arbitrary code.
17. Which security measure helps prevent tampering with IoT firmware stored on a device?
A) Secure Boot
B) Disabling logging services
C) Implementing a strong firewall
D) Increasing CPU clock speed
✅ Answer: A) Secure Boot
📌 Explanation: Secure Boot ensures only digitally signed firmware is executed, preventing malicious or modified firmware from running on the device.
18. What is a common reason for firmware vulnerabilities in IoT devices?
A) Using excessive RAM
B) Lack of regular updates and patching
C) Overuse of encryption
D) Use of proprietary programming languages
✅ Answer: B) Lack of regular updates and patching
📌 Explanation: Many IoT devices run outdated firmware with known vulnerabilities, making them easy targets for cyberattacks.
19. What is an effective way to detect unauthorized firmware modifications?
A) Checking device temperature
B) Running a cryptographic hash check
C) Monitoring Wi-Fi signal strength
D) Increasing network bandwidth
✅ Answer: B) Running a cryptographic hash check
📌 Explanation: Hash functions (SHA-256, MD5) can verify firmware integrity by comparing computed hashes with known authentic values.
20. Why is disabling unnecessary services in IoT firmware recommended?
A) To reduce device weight
B) To improve processing speed
C) To minimize attack surface
D) To allow multiple users to access firmware remotely
✅ Answer: C) To minimize attack surface
📌 Explanation: Disabling unnecessary services reduces the number of potential entry points for attackers, making the device more secure.
21. What type of encryption is commonly used to secure IoT firmware updates?
A) AES
B) Base64
C) SHA-1
D) ROT13
✅ Answer: A) AES
📌 Explanation: AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is widely used to protect firmware updates from tampering and eavesdropping.
22. What is a common method attackers use to analyze and modify IoT firmware?
A) Heuristic scanning
B) Firmware unpacking and re-packing
C) Packet sniffing
D) VPN tunneling
✅ Answer: B) Firmware unpacking and re-packing
📌 Explanation: Attackers extract firmware, modify it, and repack it to introduce malicious code before flashing it back to the device.
23. Which of the following is a secure way to store sensitive data in IoT firmware?
A) Hardcoding encryption keys in the firmware
B) Storing secrets in an isolated hardware security module
C) Using plaintext configuration files
D) Keeping passwords in environment variables
✅ Answer: B) Storing secrets in an isolated hardware security module
📌 Explanation: Secure hardware modules (TPMs, HSMs) protect sensitive data from unauthorized access, even if the firmware is compromised.
24. What is a potential consequence of an IoT firmware buffer overflow vulnerability?
A) Loss of internet connection
B) Arbitrary code execution by an attacker
C) Faster device performance
D) Limited RAM usage
✅ Answer: B) Arbitrary code execution by an attacker
📌 Explanation: Buffer overflow vulnerabilities can allow attackers to overwrite memory and execute malicious code with elevated privileges.
25. What is the purpose of a firmware validation mechanism?
A) To reduce power consumption
B) To verify firmware authenticity before execution
C) To optimize network performance
D) To disable logging services
✅ Answer: B) To verify firmware authenticity before execution
📌 Explanation: Firmware validation mechanisms, such as digital signatures, ensure that only trusted firmware runs on the device.
26. Which component is often targeted in firmware attacks to achieve persistence?
A) Temporary storage
B) Flash memory
C) Battery power management
D) LED indicators
✅ Answer: B) Flash memory
📌 Explanation: Attackers inject malicious firmware into flash memory to maintain persistent control over an IoT device.
27. Why should IoT devices use a separate partition for firmware storage?
A) To improve energy efficiency
B) To prevent unauthorized firmware modifications
C) To reduce processing delays
D) To support additional features
✅ Answer: B) To prevent unauthorized firmware modifications
📌 Explanation: Separate partitions help enforce integrity checks and reduce the risk of firmware tampering.
28. What is a JTAG interface used for in IoT devices?
A) Power management
B) Debugging and testing
C) Encrypting network traffic
D) Updating device firmware remotely
✅ Answer: B) Debugging and testing
📌 Explanation: JTAG is a hardware debugging interface often exploited by attackers to extract and modify firmware.
29. What is one disadvantage of unencrypted firmware updates?
A) Increased file size
B) Susceptibility to man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks
C) Faster processing speeds
D) Compatibility issues with older devices
✅ Answer: B) Susceptibility to man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks
📌 Explanation: Unencrypted firmware updates allow attackers to intercept and modify the update before installation.
30. What is the purpose of a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) in IoT security?
A) It creates a sandbox for running secure operations
B) It increases device processing speed
C) It enables faster network communication
D) It allows multi-user access
✅ Answer: A) It creates a sandbox for running secure operations
📌 Explanation: TEEs isolate security-critical operations from the rest of the system, making it harder for malware to interfere.
31. What should be done before flashing a firmware update on an IoT device?
A) Reboot the device
B) Verify its digital signature
C) Increase device RAM
D) Disable network access
✅ Answer: B) Verify its digital signature
📌 Explanation: Ensuring firmware is digitally signed prevents unauthorized or tampered updates from being installed.
32. Which attack manipulates IoT firmware update processes to install malware?
A) Watering hole attack
B) Supply chain attack
C) Bluejacking
D) Social engineering
✅ Answer: B) Supply chain attack
📌 Explanation: In supply chain attacks, attackers compromise firmware updates before they reach the end user.
33. Why should IoT devices avoid storing credentials in firmware?
A) It increases firmware update time
B) Credentials can be extracted from firmware dumps
C) It causes performance issues
D) It prevents device overheating
✅ Answer: B) Credentials can be extracted from firmware dumps
📌 Explanation: Hardcoded credentials in firmware can be easily retrieved and exploited by attackers.
34. What is firmware sandboxing?
A) A method to isolate and test firmware code execution
B) A technique for reducing power consumption
C) A network optimization tool
D) A backup process for firmware updates
✅ Answer: A) A method to isolate and test firmware code execution
📌 Explanation: Sandboxing helps prevent malicious firmware components from affecting critical system operations.
35. Which of the following is a recommended best practice for IoT firmware security?
A) Embedding hardcoded passwords for authentication
B) Regularly updating firmware with signed patches
C) Storing credentials in plaintext configuration files
D) Using default manufacturer settings for security
✅ Answer: B) Regularly updating firmware with signed patches
📌 Explanation: Regularly updating firmware with digitally signed patches ensures vulnerabilities are fixed and prevents unauthorized modifications.
36. What is an effective way to prevent unauthorized firmware extraction?
A) Using lightweight encryption
B) Implementing read-only memory (ROM) protection
C) Enabling Telnet access
D) Keeping firmware updates open-source
✅ Answer: B) Implementing read-only memory (ROM) protection
📌 Explanation: Read-only memory protection prevents unauthorized users from extracting and modifying firmware stored on an IoT device.
37. What is the primary purpose of firmware obfuscation in IoT security?
A) To speed up firmware updates
B) To make reverse engineering more difficult
C) To improve battery efficiency
D) To allow multiple users to access the firmware
✅ Answer: B) To make reverse engineering more difficult
📌 Explanation: Obfuscation makes it harder for attackers to analyze and modify firmware code, adding an additional security layer.
38. Which of the following is an advantage of using hardware-based root of trust in IoT devices?
A) It increases network speed
B) It ensures a secure foundation for boot and cryptographic operations
C) It allows faster firmware updates
D) It simplifies device management
✅ Answer: B) It ensures a secure foundation for boot and cryptographic operations
📌 Explanation: A hardware-based root of trust ensures that only trusted firmware and cryptographic operations are executed on the device.
39. How does a firmware integrity check help improve IoT security?
A) It prevents device overheating
B) It verifies that the firmware has not been tampered with
C) It speeds up device boot times
D) It allows for easier device access
✅ Answer: B) It verifies that the firmware has not been tampered with
📌 Explanation: Firmware integrity checks use cryptographic hashes to detect unauthorized modifications.
40. Why is firmware rollback protection necessary in IoT devices?
A) To prevent attackers from installing an older, vulnerable firmware version
B) To improve battery life
C) To enable faster boot times
D) To allow unrestricted firmware modifications
✅ Answer: A) To prevent attackers from installing an older, vulnerable firmware version
📌 Explanation: Rollback protection ensures that devices cannot be downgraded to outdated firmware with known vulnerabilities.
41. What is the purpose of implementing a watchdog timer in IoT firmware?
A) To improve network connectivity
B) To reset the system if it becomes unresponsive
C) To reduce firmware file size
D) To increase processing speed
✅ Answer: B) To reset the system if it becomes unresponsive
📌 Explanation: A watchdog timer helps recover the system from failures, ensuring continued operation and security.
42. What security risk is introduced by allowing unauthenticated remote firmware updates?
A) Increased power consumption
B) Unauthorized installation of malicious firmware
C) Improved performance
D) Enhanced user experience
✅ Answer: B) Unauthorized installation of malicious firmware
📌 Explanation: Remote firmware updates should always be authenticated and verified to prevent attackers from injecting malicious updates.
43. What is a common method for extracting firmware from an IoT device?
A) Capturing network traffic
B) Using a hardware debugger like JTAG
C) Performing social engineering
D) Executing a denial-of-service (DoS) attack
✅ Answer: B) Using a hardware debugger like JTAG
📌 Explanation: JTAG debuggers allow attackers to access the memory and extract firmware from an IoT device.
44. Which of the following helps prevent firmware tampering in IoT devices?
A) Encrypting firmware updates
B) Disabling logging services
C) Using default manufacturer credentials
D) Allowing unsigned firmware updates
✅ Answer: A) Encrypting firmware updates
📌 Explanation: Encryption prevents attackers from modifying or analyzing firmware updates during transmission.
45. What is a potential risk of exposing firmware update mechanisms to public networks?
A) Reduced device lifespan
B) Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks modifying firmware updates
C) Increased processing speeds
D) Enhanced user convenience
✅ Answer: B) Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks modifying firmware updates
📌 Explanation: Attackers can intercept and modify firmware updates if updates are not properly secured.
46. What security feature ensures that only trusted firmware is executed on an IoT device?
A) Open-source development
B) Secure Boot
C) Disabling firmware updates
D) Increasing storage capacity
✅ Answer: B) Secure Boot
📌 Explanation: Secure Boot validates firmware signatures before execution, preventing unauthorized modifications.
47. Why should IoT firmware avoid using easily guessable encryption keys?
A) It increases processing speed
B) It prevents attackers from decrypting sensitive data
C) It reduces network congestion
D) It improves device aesthetics
✅ Answer: B) It prevents attackers from decrypting sensitive data
📌 Explanation: Strong encryption keys ensure that attackers cannot easily decrypt firmware or communications.
48. What is a security risk of hardcoded cryptographic keys in firmware?
A) It improves battery life
B) Attackers can extract the keys and use them for malicious purposes
C) It allows faster encryption processing
D) It enhances device performance
✅ Answer: B) Attackers can extract the keys and use them for malicious purposes
📌 Explanation: Hardcoded cryptographic keys in firmware can be extracted and used to compromise the device or other systems.
49. What is a common attack technique used to exploit buffer overflow vulnerabilities in firmware?
A) Heap spraying
B) Man-in-the-Middle (MitM)
C) SQL Injection
D) DNS Spoofing
✅ Answer: A) Heap spraying
📌 Explanation: Heap spraying is used to manipulate memory allocations and execute arbitrary code through buffer overflow vulnerabilities.
50. Why should IoT firmware updates use cryptographic signatures?
A) To reduce the size of firmware files
B) To verify the authenticity and integrity of updates
C) To improve network speed
D) To enhance device aesthetics
✅ Answer: B) To verify the authenticity and integrity of updates
📌 Explanation: Cryptographic signatures prevent unauthorized modifications to firmware updates, ensuring only trusted updates are installed.
51. What is the primary purpose of firmware encryption in IoT devices?
A) To reduce firmware file size
B) To prevent unauthorized access and reverse engineering
C) To improve device boot speed
D) To allow faster updates
✅ Answer: B) To prevent unauthorized access and reverse engineering
📌 Explanation: Firmware encryption ensures that even if attackers extract firmware, they cannot analyze or modify it without the decryption key.
52. Which of the following best describes a backdoor in IoT firmware?
A) A hidden method to access a device without authentication
B) A vulnerability caused by poor memory management
C) A secure channel for remote firmware updates
D) A technique for optimizing firmware performance
✅ Answer: A) A hidden method to access a device without authentication
📌 Explanation: Backdoors allow unauthorized access to IoT devices, often created intentionally for maintenance but can be exploited by attackers.
53. What is a key concern when IoT devices use open-source firmware?
A) Increased power consumption
B) Potential security vulnerabilities if not maintained properly
C) Higher device cost
D) Reduced compatibility with wireless networks
✅ Answer: B) Potential security vulnerabilities if not maintained properly
📌 Explanation: Open-source firmware can be secure if actively maintained, but unpatched vulnerabilities can be exploited by attackers.
54. How does a firmware exploit differ from a software exploit?
A) Firmware exploits target low-level system components, while software exploits affect applications
B) Firmware exploits occur only in network-based attacks
C) Software exploits are more dangerous than firmware exploits
D) Firmware exploits cannot be patched
✅ Answer: A) Firmware exploits target low-level system components, while software exploits affect applications
📌 Explanation: Firmware operates closer to hardware, making exploits harder to detect and mitigate compared to software vulnerabilities.
55. What attack technique involves injecting malicious firmware during the manufacturing process?
A) Side-channel attack
B) Supply chain attack
C) Clickjacking
D) Buffer overflow attack
✅ Answer: B) Supply chain attack
📌 Explanation: Attackers may compromise firmware before the device is shipped, embedding malware that activates once deployed.
56. What is a common method used to protect firmware updates from tampering?
A) Disabling remote updates
B) Using code obfuscation
C) Implementing cryptographic signatures
D) Storing updates in plaintext format
✅ Answer: C) Implementing cryptographic signatures
📌 Explanation: Signed firmware updates ensure authenticity and integrity, preventing unauthorized modifications.
57. Which component is most likely targeted in an IoT firmware bootloader attack?
A) Random Access Memory (RAM)
B) Network interface
C) Secure Boot mechanism
D) Device casing
✅ Answer: C) Secure Boot mechanism
📌 Explanation: Attackers may attempt to bypass Secure Boot to load malicious firmware or unauthorized operating systems.
58. Why should IoT firmware updates be designed with rollback prevention?
A) To ensure updates install faster
B) To prevent attackers from reinstalling older, vulnerable firmware versions
C) To reduce power consumption
D) To make debugging easier
✅ Answer: B) To prevent attackers from reinstalling older, vulnerable firmware versions
📌 Explanation: Rollback prevention stops attackers from downgrading firmware to exploit previously patched security flaws.
59. What is a common risk of using third-party firmware in IoT devices?
A) Faster battery drainage
B) Incompatibility with hardware components
C) Introduction of undocumented vulnerabilities or malware
D) Increased device cost
✅ Answer: C) Introduction of undocumented vulnerabilities or malware
📌 Explanation: Third-party firmware may contain hidden vulnerabilities or malware, especially if sourced from untrusted vendors.
60. What attack involves analyzing power consumption to extract cryptographic keys from IoT firmware?
A) Heap spraying
B) Side-channel attack
C) SQL injection
D) Cross-site scripting
✅ Answer: B) Side-channel attack
📌 Explanation: Side-channel attacks analyze physical characteristics (e.g., power usage, electromagnetic radiation) to infer sensitive information.
61. What is a common weakness in firmware update mechanisms?
A) Excessive file size
B) Use of cleartext transmission without encryption
C) Inability to support multiple users
D) Limited access to system logs
✅ Answer: B) Use of cleartext transmission without encryption
📌 Explanation: Unencrypted firmware updates are susceptible to interception and modification by attackers.
62. Why is it important to remove debugging symbols from production firmware?
A) To make firmware updates easier
B) To prevent attackers from extracting useful information for reverse engineering
C) To increase processing speed
D) To improve wireless connectivity
✅ Answer: B) To prevent attackers from extracting useful information for reverse engineering
📌 Explanation: Debugging symbols provide valuable insights into firmware structure, making it easier for attackers to find vulnerabilities.
63. What is the purpose of a firmware binary hardening technique?
A) To improve device energy efficiency
B) To make firmware more resistant to exploitation
C) To allow easier firmware modifications
D) To ensure backward compatibility
✅ Answer: B) To make firmware more resistant to exploitation
📌 Explanation: Hardening techniques like control flow integrity (CFI) and address space layout randomization (ASLR) make firmware more secure.
64. Which of the following best describes firmware fuzzing?
A) A technique to find vulnerabilities by injecting malformed inputs
B) A method for optimizing device performance
C) A network encryption algorithm
D) A way to improve firmware execution speed
✅ Answer: A) A technique to find vulnerabilities by injecting malformed inputs
📌 Explanation: Firmware fuzzing tests firmware for security flaws by providing unexpected or random data as input.
65. What type of firmware vulnerability allows an attacker to execute unauthorized commands?
A) Buffer overflow
B) Brute force attack
C) Dictionary attack
D) Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
✅ Answer: A) Buffer overflow
📌 Explanation: Buffer overflow vulnerabilities occur when input exceeds buffer capacity, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code.
66. What is an essential step in securing firmware storage on IoT devices?
A) Using a strong firewall
B) Encrypting firmware at rest
C) Disabling device logging
D) Increasing the processing power
✅ Answer: B) Encrypting firmware at rest
📌 Explanation: Encrypting firmware storage prevents attackers from extracting and analyzing firmware images.
67. Why is hardware-based encryption preferred for securing IoT firmware?
A) It speeds up data transmission
B) It offloads encryption operations from the main processor, improving performance
C) It makes firmware updates faster
D) It reduces firmware file size
✅ Answer: B) It offloads encryption operations from the main processor, improving performance
📌 Explanation: Hardware-based encryption is more efficient and resistant to tampering compared to software-based encryption.
68. What is the risk of allowing unrestricted firmware flashing on an IoT device?
A) The device might become faster
B) Unauthorized firmware can be installed
C) The device battery will drain quicker
D) Firmware file sizes will increase
✅ Answer: B) Unauthorized firmware can be installed
📌 Explanation: Allowing unrestricted firmware flashing exposes devices to malicious modifications.
69. What is an effective way to verify firmware authenticity before execution?
A) Checking the firmware version number
B) Using cryptographic hashes
C) Comparing file sizes
D) Monitoring system logs
✅ Answer: B) Using cryptographic hashes
📌 Explanation: Hash-based verification ensures firmware integrity by detecting unauthorized modifications.
70. What is a common indicator of firmware tampering in an IoT device?
A) Increased network latency
B) Unexpected system reboots or crashes
C) Faster boot times
D) Enhanced device performance
✅ Answer: B) Unexpected system reboots or crashes
📌 Explanation: Firmware tampering can introduce instability, causing frequent crashes or erratic behavior.
71. What is the primary purpose of firmware whitelisting in IoT security?
A) To improve device processing speed
B) To allow only trusted firmware to execute on a device
C) To enable multiple users to modify firmware
D) To reduce network bandwidth usage
✅ Answer: B) To allow only trusted firmware to execute on a device
📌 Explanation: Firmware whitelisting ensures that only pre-approved firmware versions are allowed to run, preventing unauthorized modifications.
72. Why should IoT firmware avoid including sensitive data like passwords or API keys?
A) To improve device boot time
B) To prevent attackers from extracting them and using them for malicious purposes
C) To reduce firmware size
D) To improve wireless network connectivity
✅ Answer: B) To prevent attackers from extracting them and using them for malicious purposes
📌 Explanation: Hardcoded credentials in firmware can be extracted and misused by attackers to gain unauthorized access.
73. What is the purpose of implementing Code Execution Prevention (DEP) in IoT firmware?
A) To enhance firmware update speed
B) To prevent execution of malicious code in non-executable memory regions
C) To reduce power consumption
D) To allow firmware to support multiple device types
✅ Answer: B) To prevent execution of malicious code in non-executable memory regions
📌 Explanation: DEP ensures that memory regions intended for data storage cannot be executed, reducing the risk of buffer overflow exploits.
74. What is a primary risk of using an insecure bootloader in IoT devices?
A) Increased energy consumption
B) Unauthorized firmware modifications and rootkit installation
C) Reduced network bandwidth
D) Poor user experience
✅ Answer: B) Unauthorized firmware modifications and rootkit installation
📌 Explanation: An insecure bootloader can allow attackers to load modified firmware, leading to persistent malware or system compromise.
75. What is a recommended method for ensuring the authenticity of IoT firmware updates?
A) Downloading firmware from any publicly available source
B) Using cryptographic signatures for update verification
C) Checking the firmware version manually
D) Storing firmware updates in plaintext format
✅ Answer: B) Using cryptographic signatures for update verification
📌 Explanation: Cryptographic signatures validate that a firmware update has not been tampered with and is from a trusted source.
76. What role does Trusted Platform Module (TPM) play in IoT firmware security?
A) It encrypts data stored in RAM
B) It provides hardware-based security for storing cryptographic keys and firmware integrity checks
C) It improves battery life in IoT devices
D) It enables faster firmware execution
✅ Answer: B) It provides hardware-based security for storing cryptographic keys and firmware integrity checks
📌 Explanation: TPM ensures secure storage of sensitive information and helps verify the integrity of the firmware.
77. What is a common risk associated with over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates in IoT?
A) Devices becoming too slow
B) Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks intercepting and modifying updates
C) Increased power consumption
D) Limited compatibility with existing firmware
✅ Answer: B) Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks intercepting and modifying updates
📌 Explanation: If OTA updates are not properly secured, attackers can intercept and modify firmware updates, injecting malicious code.
78. Why should IoT devices implement firmware attestation?
A) To verify that the firmware has not been tampered with before execution
B) To reduce the overall firmware size
C) To ensure faster firmware execution
D) To prevent device overheating
✅ Answer: A) To verify that the firmware has not been tampered with before execution
📌 Explanation: Firmware attestation uses cryptographic techniques to check the integrity and authenticity of the firmware before execution.
79. What is the security benefit of disabling unused hardware interfaces (e.g., UART, JTAG) in IoT devices?
A) It reduces memory usage
B) It prevents unauthorized access and firmware extraction
C) It speeds up firmware execution
D) It improves device battery life
✅ Answer: B) It prevents unauthorized access and firmware extraction
📌 Explanation: Attackers can use debugging interfaces like UART and JTAG to extract firmware and reverse-engineer it, making them security risks.
80. What is the role of a firmware integrity monitoring system?
A) It checks for unauthorized changes in firmware during runtime
B) It ensures the firmware update process is faster
C) It optimizes memory usage in embedded devices
D) It reduces CPU load
✅ Answer: A) It checks for unauthorized changes in firmware during runtime
📌 Explanation: Integrity monitoring systems detect tampering or unauthorized modifications to firmware, ensuring device security.
81. How can attackers modify firmware in a cold boot attack?
A) By exploiting buffer overflow vulnerabilities
B) By extracting and modifying firmware stored in RAM after a sudden reboot
C) By performing social engineering attacks
D) By exploiting weak passwords
✅ Answer: B) By extracting and modifying firmware stored in RAM after a sudden reboot
📌 Explanation: Cold boot attacks involve extracting memory contents that remain accessible after a reboot to obtain sensitive firmware data.
82. What is a major risk of allowing unauthenticated firmware updates?
A) Slower update process
B) Unauthorized installation of malicious firmware
C) Device overheating
D) Increased power consumption
✅ Answer: B) Unauthorized installation of malicious firmware
📌 Explanation: Unauthenticated firmware updates allow attackers to install malicious software, compromising device security.
83. What is an effective method to prevent firmware rollback attacks?
A) Disabling firmware updates
B) Implementing firmware version tracking and rollback prevention
C) Using open-source firmware only
D) Encrypting firmware backups
✅ Answer: B) Implementing firmware version tracking and rollback prevention
📌 Explanation: Firmware rollback prevention ensures that attackers cannot reinstall older, vulnerable firmware versions.
84. Which attack involves flipping bits in firmware memory to manipulate behavior?
A) Buffer overflow attack
B) Rowhammer attack
C) SQL Injection
D) Clickjacking
✅ Answer: B) Rowhammer attack
📌 Explanation: Rowhammer is a hardware attack that exploits memory vulnerabilities by repeatedly accessing adjacent memory rows to cause bit flips.
85. What is a zero-day firmware vulnerability?
A) A known vulnerability with an available patch
B) A flaw that is publicly disclosed but not yet exploited
C) A vulnerability that has no patch or mitigation available
D) A firmware update process error
✅ Answer: C) A vulnerability that has no patch or mitigation available
📌 Explanation: Zero-day vulnerabilities are security flaws that are unknown to the manufacturer and do not yet have patches.
86. What is the risk of exposing IoT firmware update servers to the public internet?
A) Increased energy consumption
B) Remote exploitation and unauthorized firmware modifications
C) Slower device performance
D) Reduced device lifespan
✅ Answer: B) Remote exploitation and unauthorized firmware modifications
📌 Explanation: Publicly exposed firmware update servers can be compromised, leading to mass distribution of malicious firmware updates.
87. How can attackers exploit unprotected bootloader environments?
A) By executing privilege escalation attacks to modify firmware
B) By reducing device latency
C) By improving device boot times
D) By updating firmware securely
✅ Answer: A) By executing privilege escalation attacks to modify firmware
📌 Explanation: Unprotected bootloaders allow attackers to load custom or malicious firmware by bypassing security restrictions.
88. Why is regular firmware security auditing important for IoT devices?
A) To ensure device performance remains high
B) To identify and patch vulnerabilities before they are exploited
C) To improve device battery life
D) To reduce firmware file sizes
✅ Answer: B) To identify and patch vulnerabilities before they are exploited
📌 Explanation: Regular audits help detect and fix security flaws, reducing the risk of exploitation.
89. What is a primary purpose of firmware sandboxing in IoT devices?
A) To improve device power efficiency
B) To isolate untrusted code execution and prevent security breaches
C) To reduce network latency
D) To increase firmware size for security reasons
✅ Answer: B) To isolate untrusted code execution and prevent security breaches
📌 Explanation: Sandboxing limits the potential impact of malicious code by isolating it from critical system components.
90. What is a primary method for attackers to bypass firmware update security mechanisms?
A) Exploiting weak cryptographic implementations
B) Increasing network latency
C) Sending large amounts of traffic to the device
D) Using open-source firmware
✅ Answer: A) Exploiting weak cryptographic implementations
📌 Explanation: Attackers can exploit vulnerabilities in encryption algorithms to modify firmware updates and bypass integrity checks.
91. What does firmware binary padding help prevent?
A) Buffer overflow exploits
B) Faster firmware execution
C) Firmware downgrade attacks
D) Debugging of firmware by unauthorized users
✅ Answer: A) Buffer overflow exploits
📌 Explanation: Binary padding prevents attackers from manipulating buffer overflow vulnerabilities by filling extra memory space.
92. Which attack vector is commonly used to inject malicious code into IoT firmware?
A) Buffer overflow
B) Brute force attack
C) SQL Injection
D) Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
✅ Answer: A) Buffer overflow
📌 Explanation: Buffer overflow vulnerabilities allow attackers to overwrite memory and execute arbitrary code within firmware.
93. Why should IoT devices implement stack canaries?
A) To prevent stack-based buffer overflow attacks
B) To encrypt all firmware data
C) To enhance bootloader performance
D) To enable faster firmware rollbacks
✅ Answer: A) To prevent stack-based buffer overflow attacks
📌 Explanation: Stack canaries are security mechanisms placed between buffers and control data to detect buffer overflow attempts.
94. What is the primary security risk of using plaintext firmware updates?
A) Increased update speed
B) The updates can be intercepted and modified by attackers
C) The updates use less storage space
D) The updates are easier to install
✅ Answer: B) The updates can be intercepted and modified by attackers
📌 Explanation: Plaintext firmware updates allow attackers to alter or inject malicious code into firmware updates.
95. What is a primary benefit of secure enclave technology in IoT security?
A) Faster boot times
B) Isolated execution of security-sensitive operations
C) Reduced firmware update sizes
D) Improved wireless connectivity
✅ Answer: B) Isolated execution of security-sensitive operations
📌 Explanation: Secure enclaves ensure that cryptographic operations and sensitive tasks are executed in a protected environment.
96. Which of the following firmware security features prevents unauthorized debugging?
A) Enabling Telnet access
B) Secure Boot with debug port lockdown
C) Disabling cryptographic signatures
D) Using factory default passwords
✅ Answer: B) Secure Boot with debug port lockdown
📌 Explanation: Locking down debug ports like JTAG/UART prevents attackers from extracting firmware and modifying system behavior.
97. What is an advantage of Remote Attestation in IoT security?
A) It enables remote firmware updates over Wi-Fi
B) It verifies the integrity of the firmware before execution
C) It allows attackers to inspect firmware more easily
D) It improves battery life in IoT devices
✅ Answer: B) It verifies the integrity of the firmware before execution
📌 Explanation: Remote attestation ensures that firmware has not been modified or tampered with before running.
98. What role does a secure boot chain play in firmware security?
A) It ensures that each stage of the boot process is authenticated and verified
B) It encrypts all network traffic
C) It optimizes device performance
D) It enables multi-user firmware access
✅ Answer: A) It ensures that each stage of the boot process is authenticated and verified
📌 Explanation: Secure boot chains verify cryptographic signatures at each stage of the boot process, preventing unauthorized modifications.
99. What is a fuzzing attack in the context of firmware security?
A) Sending malformed inputs to crash or exploit vulnerabilities in firmware
B) Overclocking the processor to slow down execution
C) Encrypting all stored firmware files
D) Performing a brute force attack on firmware encryption
✅ Answer: A) Sending malformed inputs to crash or exploit vulnerabilities in firmware
📌 Explanation: Fuzzing is a technique used to identify vulnerabilities by inputting random or malformed data into firmware.
100. What is the purpose of Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) in firmware security?
A) To increase firmware update speed
B) To make memory corruption exploits more difficult
C) To optimize battery consumption
D) To enable multiple users to execute firmware
✅ Answer: B) To make memory corruption exploits more difficult
📌 Explanation: ASLR randomizes memory addresses, making it harder for attackers to predict and exploit vulnerabilities.
101. Why should firmware logging be secured in IoT devices?
A) To store logs efficiently in external storage
B) To prevent sensitive data from being exposed to attackers
C) To reduce firmware update sizes
D) To improve firmware rollback mechanisms
✅ Answer: B) To prevent sensitive data from being exposed to attackers
📌 Explanation: Unsecured logs can reveal critical information, including authentication data or debug messages useful for attackers.
102. What attack attempts to exploit race conditions in firmware execution?
A) Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) attack
B) Heap spraying attack
C) Rowhammer attack
D) Side-channel attack
✅ Answer: A) Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) attack
📌 Explanation: TOCTOU attacks exploit the delay between a security check and the actual execution of firmware instructions.
103. What is the risk of allowing unsigned firmware execution?
A) Increased firmware update speed
B) Execution of malicious or modified firmware
C) Faster device boot times
D) Improved network connectivity
✅ Answer: B) Execution of malicious or modified firmware
📌 Explanation: Unsigned firmware can be tampered with by attackers, leading to potential security breaches.
104. Why should firmware reset functions be protected?
A) To prevent unauthorized factory resets that remove security patches
B) To improve firmware execution speed
C) To reduce power consumption
D) To increase device network range
✅ Answer: A) To prevent unauthorized factory resets that remove security patches
📌 Explanation: Attackers may attempt to reset firmware to an older, vulnerable version to exploit known flaws.
105. What security risk is posed by using default firmware credentials?
A) Increased CPU utilization
B) Easier access for attackers through credential reuse
C) Reduced firmware update sizes
D) Faster authentication process
✅ Answer: B) Easier access for attackers through credential reuse
📌 Explanation: Default credentials are commonly known and can be used by attackers to gain unauthorized access to IoT devices.
106. How does firmware redundancy improve security?
A) By allowing multiple firmware versions to execute simultaneously
B) By enabling rollback to a secure version in case of a failure
C) By reducing memory usage
D) By optimizing processor efficiency
✅ Answer: B) By enabling rollback to a secure version in case of a failure
📌 Explanation: Firmware redundancy allows devices to revert to a known safe version if an update is corrupted or compromised.
107. What security feature can help prevent firmware tampering during transmission?
A) Signed and encrypted firmware updates
B) Disabling network access
C) Using open-source encryption algorithms
D) Reducing firmware file size
✅ Answer: A) Signed and encrypted firmware updates
📌 Explanation: Encrypting and signing firmware updates ensures they are not modified in transit.
108. What is the purpose of implementing a firmware-based Hardware Root of Trust (HRoT)?
A) To improve device boot speed
B) To ensure secure firmware execution by verifying cryptographic signatures
C) To reduce device power consumption
D) To enable faster firmware updates
✅ Answer: B) To ensure secure firmware execution by verifying cryptographic signatures
📌 Explanation: HRoT ensures that only trusted firmware is loaded during boot, preventing unauthorized modifications and malware infections.
109. What risk is introduced by improperly implemented firmware downgrade protections?
A) Faster device boot times
B) Attackers can reinstall vulnerable older firmware versions
C) Reduced battery consumption
D) Firmware updates will take longer to install
✅ Answer: B) Attackers can reinstall vulnerable older firmware versions
📌 Explanation: Without downgrade protection, attackers can force a device to install an older, vulnerable firmware version, exposing it to previously patched exploits.
110. Why should IoT firmware updates be delivered over encrypted communication channels?
A) To improve network performance
B) To prevent attackers from intercepting and modifying the firmware update
C) To reduce device overheating
D) To allow multiple users to update firmware simultaneously
✅ Answer: B) To prevent attackers from intercepting and modifying the firmware update
📌 Explanation: Encryption (e.g., TLS) ensures that firmware updates cannot be tampered with during transmission.
111. What is a risk of leaving debugging features enabled in production IoT firmware?
A) Increased firmware update times
B) Attackers can exploit debugging tools to extract firmware and gain system control
C) Reduced network latency
D) Faster device response times
✅ Answer: B) Attackers can exploit debugging tools to extract firmware and gain system control
📌 Explanation: Debugging interfaces such as JTAG and UART can be used to extract firmware, reverse-engineer the device, or bypass security protections.
112. Which of the following best describes a time-of-use race condition attack in IoT firmware?
A) Exploiting a delay between a security check and the execution of an operation
B) Overloading the device with excessive network requests
C) Injecting malware through email phishing
D) Modifying the firmware checksum before execution
✅ Answer: A) Exploiting a delay between a security check and the execution of an operation
📌 Explanation: A time-of-use race condition allows an attacker to modify the firmware or memory between the time a security check is performed and when the action is executed.
113. Why is disabling unused hardware interfaces (e.g., SPI, I2C) important for IoT firmware security?
A) To improve device performance
B) To prevent unauthorized access and firmware dumping
C) To allow remote firmware updates
D) To increase network bandwidth
✅ Answer: B) To prevent unauthorized access and firmware dumping
📌 Explanation: Unused hardware interfaces can be exploited by attackers to extract firmware, modify device behavior, or gain unauthorized access.
114. What is an effective method to prevent firmware-based supply chain attacks?
A) Using third-party firmware without verification
B) Implementing code signing and firmware integrity validation
C) Disabling network connectivity
D) Storing firmware updates in plaintext format
✅ Answer: B) Implementing code signing and firmware integrity validation
📌 Explanation: Code signing ensures that firmware updates are verified before execution, preventing tampered or malicious updates from being installed.
115. Why is code reuse a potential security risk in IoT firmware development?
A) It leads to larger firmware sizes
B) It increases firmware update frequency
C) It may introduce old vulnerabilities into new firmware versions
D) It improves device boot times
✅ Answer: C) It may introduce old vulnerabilities into new firmware versions
📌 Explanation: Reusing insecure code across multiple firmware versions increases the risk of vulnerabilities being reintroduced.
116. How can memory corruption vulnerabilities in IoT firmware be mitigated?
A) By disabling network connectivity
B) By using secure coding practices and implementing Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR)
C) By enabling all debugging interfaces
D) By allowing unsigned firmware execution
✅ Answer: B) By using secure coding practices and implementing Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR)
📌 Explanation: Secure coding and ASLR help prevent memory corruption vulnerabilities like buffer overflows by making memory exploitation more difficult.
117. What is a common risk when storing firmware encryption keys directly in IoT device memory?
A) The keys can be extracted by attackers, leading to firmware decryption and tampering
B) The device may consume more battery power
C) The firmware update process becomes slower
D) The device will become incompatible with newer firmware versions
✅ Answer: A) The keys can be extracted by attackers, leading to firmware decryption and tampering
📌 Explanation: Storing encryption keys in device memory makes them vulnerable to extraction through memory dumps or debugging tools.
118. What is the purpose of a tamper-resistant firmware storage mechanism?
A) To prevent unauthorized modifications to firmware
B) To reduce firmware update times
C) To improve device processing speed
D) To allow firmware modifications by multiple users
✅ Answer: A) To prevent unauthorized modifications to firmware
📌 Explanation: Tamper-resistant storage mechanisms ensure that firmware remains secure even if an attacker gains physical access to the device.
119. Why is secure firmware rollback prevention necessary?
A) To prevent an attacker from installing an older firmware version with known vulnerabilities
B) To improve device boot time
C) To allow faster firmware updates
D) To reduce CPU utilization
✅ Answer: A) To prevent an attacker from installing an older firmware version with known vulnerabilities
📌 Explanation: Without rollback prevention, attackers can reinstall outdated firmware versions to exploit previously patched vulnerabilities.
120. What is a potential risk of using default encryption keys in IoT firmware?
A) The encryption keys may be widely known or predictable, making them ineffective against attacks
B) The device firmware will execute slower
C) The firmware update process will require additional steps
D) The encryption will require more processing power
✅ Answer: A) The encryption keys may be widely known or predictable, making them ineffective against attacks
📌 Explanation: Default or hardcoded encryption keys can be easily retrieved and reused by attackers, compromising the security of encrypted firmware data.
121. What is a primary concern when an IoT device allows unsigned firmware execution?
A) It reduces power consumption
B) It enables unauthorized modifications and malware injection
C) It improves device boot times
D) It increases network bandwidth usage
✅ Answer: B) It enables unauthorized modifications and malware injection
📌 Explanation: Unsigned firmware execution allows attackers to install malicious firmware, leading to unauthorized control of the device.
122. Why is it important to have a fail-safe firmware recovery mechanism in IoT devices?
A) To ensure a working firmware version can be restored after a failed update
B) To reduce processing power usage
C) To prevent multiple users from modifying firmware
D) To improve battery life
✅ Answer: A) To ensure a working firmware version can be restored after a failed update
📌 Explanation: Fail-safe recovery mechanisms allow the device to revert to a stable firmware version if an update is corrupted or interrupted.
123. What is a common method attackers use to gain persistent control over an IoT device?
A) Modifying and flashing malicious firmware onto the device
B) Sending spam messages to the device
C) Increasing the device’s CPU speed
D) Disabling network encryption
✅ Answer: A) Modifying and flashing malicious firmware onto the device
📌 Explanation: Attackers can flash modified firmware with backdoors or rootkits to maintain persistent control over a compromised device.
124. What is a major security risk of allowing unauthenticated remote firmware updates?
A) Increased device overheating
B) Unauthorized parties can install malicious firmware updates
C) Reduced device processing speed
D) Increased battery consumption
✅ Answer: B) Unauthorized parties can install malicious firmware updates
📌 Explanation: Unauthenticated updates allow attackers to push malicious firmware, leading to potential data theft and system compromise.
125. What technique can help prevent firmware extraction from IoT devices?
A) Using tamper-resistant storage and secure boot
B) Storing firmware in plaintext format
C) Allowing unrestricted read access to the firmware
D) Enabling open-source firmware updates
✅ Answer: A) Using tamper-resistant storage and secure boot
📌 Explanation: Secure boot and tamper-resistant storage prevent attackers from extracting and modifying firmware.
126. What is the primary purpose of hashing firmware binaries before execution?
A) To improve boot time
B) To verify firmware integrity and detect tampering
C) To compress firmware for faster execution
D) To enable easier firmware modification
✅ Answer: B) To verify firmware integrity and detect tampering
📌 Explanation: Hashing ensures that firmware has not been altered by comparing computed hashes with expected values.
127. What is a heap overflow vulnerability in IoT firmware?
A) A vulnerability where an attacker forces a device to use excessive battery power
B) A security flaw that allows memory corruption by writing beyond allocated heap memory
C) A bug that increases firmware update times
D) A feature that improves device boot speeds
✅ Answer: B) A security flaw that allows memory corruption by writing beyond allocated heap memory
📌 Explanation: Heap overflow vulnerabilities occur when data is written beyond the allocated memory, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.
128. What is a risk of using default firmware encryption keys across multiple devices?
A) It leads to increased battery usage
B) Attackers can extract and reuse the keys, compromising all devices
C) It reduces processing speed
D) It requires more frequent firmware updates
✅ Answer: B) Attackers can extract and reuse the keys, compromising all devices
📌 Explanation: Default encryption keys are often publicly available or predictable, making it easy for attackers to decrypt firmware data.
129. How can IoT devices detect unauthorized firmware modifications?
A) By performing cryptographic signature verification before execution
B) By increasing the device’s processing power
C) By allowing third-party firmware modifications
D) By reducing firmware update frequency
✅ Answer: A) By performing cryptographic signature verification before execution
📌 Explanation: Signature verification ensures that firmware is not modified by checking its authenticity before execution.
130. Why should IoT firmware updates be incremental rather than full replacements?
A) To minimize the risk of a failed update rendering the device unusable
B) To increase device processing speed
C) To reduce encryption overhead
D) To allow easier firmware extraction
✅ Answer: A) To minimize the risk of a failed update rendering the device unusable
📌 Explanation: Incremental updates apply only necessary changes, reducing the chances of update failures.
131. What security mechanism can prevent firmware rollback attacks?
A) Enforcing version control and anti-rollback protections
B) Disabling firmware logging
C) Allowing unrestricted firmware modifications
D) Using plaintext firmware updates
✅ Answer: A) Enforcing version control and anti-rollback protections
📌 Explanation: Anti-rollback mechanisms prevent attackers from reinstalling older firmware with known vulnerabilities.
132. What is the role of a secure enclave in firmware security?
A) It isolates sensitive operations and cryptographic processes from the rest of the system
B) It speeds up firmware updates
C) It reduces firmware size
D) It enables multiple users to modify firmware
✅ Answer: A) It isolates sensitive operations and cryptographic processes from the rest of the system
📌 Explanation: Secure enclaves protect critical operations from tampering and unauthorized access.
133. Why should IoT firmware avoid using hardcoded encryption keys?
A) To improve wireless connectivity
B) To prevent attackers from extracting and reusing them
C) To reduce firmware size
D) To enable easier firmware debugging
✅ Answer: B) To prevent attackers from extracting and reusing them
📌 Explanation: Hardcoded keys can be extracted from firmware, compromising all devices using the same key.
134. How does Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) improve firmware security?
A) It randomizes memory locations to make exploits harder
B) It speeds up firmware execution
C) It reduces firmware update sizes
D) It increases battery efficiency
✅ Answer: A) It randomizes memory locations to make exploits harder
📌 Explanation: ASLR makes it difficult for attackers to predict memory addresses, mitigating buffer overflow attacks.
135. What is the risk of using open-source firmware in IoT devices?
A) Increased firmware execution speed
B) Potential for unpatched vulnerabilities and backdoors
C) Reduced device memory usage
D) Increased battery life
✅ Answer: B) Potential for unpatched vulnerabilities and backdoors
📌 Explanation: Open-source firmware must be regularly maintained to avoid exposing devices to security vulnerabilities.
136. How can an IoT device verify firmware authenticity before installation?
A) By checking cryptographic signatures against trusted sources
B) By allowing users to manually inspect the firmware
C) By downloading firmware from any online source
D) By checking the firmware’s file name
✅ Answer: A) By checking cryptographic signatures against trusted sources
📌 Explanation: Signature verification ensures the firmware originates from a legitimate source and hasn’t been altered.
137. What is the purpose of memory segmentation in IoT firmware security?
A) To separate different types of data and prevent unauthorized access
B) To speed up firmware execution
C) To reduce firmware update sizes
D) To improve battery performance
✅ Answer: A) To separate different types of data and prevent unauthorized access
📌 Explanation: Memory segmentation prevents attackers from executing unauthorized code by isolating sensitive operations.
138. What type of attack can result from improper input validation in IoT firmware?
A) Buffer overflow attacks
B) Faster firmware execution
C) Increased encryption speed
D) Reduced battery life
✅ Answer: A) Buffer overflow attacks
📌 Explanation: Lack of input validation allows attackers to overflow memory buffers and execute arbitrary code.
139. Why should IoT devices implement secure boot?
A) To ensure only authorized firmware executes during startup
B) To improve boot speed
C) To allow users to modify firmware freely
D) To increase battery efficiency
✅ Answer: A) To ensure only authorized firmware executes during startup
📌 Explanation: Secure boot verifies firmware integrity, preventing execution of malicious or modified firmware.
140. What is the main purpose of firmware integrity monitoring?
A) To detect unauthorized changes in firmware
B) To speed up firmware updates
C) To increase CPU usage
D) To allow unrestricted firmware modifications
✅ Answer: A) To detect unauthorized changes in firmware
📌 Explanation: Integrity monitoring checks for unauthorized modifications, ensuring firmware security.
141. What is the primary purpose of implementing firmware anomaly detection?
A) To reduce the size of firmware updates
B) To detect unexpected firmware behavior that could indicate tampering
C) To improve battery life in IoT devices
D) To allow multiple users to modify firmware
✅ Answer: B) To detect unexpected firmware behavior that could indicate tampering
📌 Explanation: Anomaly detection monitors firmware for unusual activity, helping detect security breaches or unauthorized modifications.
142. What is the role of a firmware security patch?
A) To improve device aesthetics
B) To fix vulnerabilities in existing firmware and prevent exploitation
C) To reduce network bandwidth usage
D) To increase device storage capacity
✅ Answer: B) To fix vulnerabilities in existing firmware and prevent exploitation
📌 Explanation: Security patches address known firmware vulnerabilities, reducing the risk of exploitation by attackers.
143. Why is randomized firmware execution beneficial for IoT security?
A) It prevents attackers from predicting execution patterns and exploiting vulnerabilities
B) It speeds up firmware updates
C) It increases battery efficiency
D) It simplifies firmware debugging
✅ Answer: A) It prevents attackers from predicting execution patterns and exploiting vulnerabilities
📌 Explanation: Randomizing execution flow makes it harder for attackers to predict and manipulate memory locations for exploitation.
144. What is a risk of firmware modification through remote code execution (RCE)?
A) The device may process firmware updates more slowly
B) Attackers can remotely install malicious firmware without physical access
C) The device may become more power-efficient
D) The firmware will execute faster than expected
✅ Answer: B) Attackers can remotely install malicious firmware without physical access
📌 Explanation: RCE vulnerabilities allow attackers to modify firmware remotely, potentially compromising the entire device.
145. Why should IoT firmware use write protection on critical system files?
A) To reduce memory usage
B) To prevent unauthorized modifications to the firmware
C) To enable faster boot times
D) To improve network connectivity
✅ Answer: B) To prevent unauthorized modifications to the firmware
📌 Explanation: Write protection ensures that critical firmware files cannot be altered, protecting against malicious modifications.
146. How does code signing enhance firmware security?
A) It speeds up firmware execution
B) It ensures only trusted firmware is executed
C) It increases battery consumption
D) It allows firmware to be modified more easily
✅ Answer: B) It ensures only trusted firmware is executed
📌 Explanation: Code signing verifies that firmware updates come from a trusted source and have not been tampered with.
147. What is the purpose of firmware rollback prevention?
A) To prevent attackers from reinstalling vulnerable firmware versions
B) To allow older firmware versions to run alongside new ones
C) To make firmware updates faster
D) To increase device processing power
✅ Answer: A) To prevent attackers from reinstalling vulnerable firmware versions
📌 Explanation: Rollback prevention ensures that devices do not revert to outdated firmware that contains security vulnerabilities.
148. Why should IoT firmware avoid using predictable memory addresses?
A) To improve device boot speed
B) To prevent attackers from easily exploiting memory vulnerabilities
C) To allow multiple firmware updates at the same time
D) To improve battery performance
✅ Answer: B) To prevent attackers from easily exploiting memory vulnerabilities
📌 Explanation: Predictable memory addresses make it easier for attackers to exploit buffer overflow and other memory corruption vulnerabilities.
149. How does firmware attestation enhance security?
A) By verifying that firmware has not been tampered with before execution
B) By reducing device boot time
C) By increasing wireless connectivity speed
D) By improving device aesthetics
✅ Answer: A) By verifying that firmware has not been tampered with before execution
📌 Explanation: Firmware attestation ensures that the firmware running on a device has not been altered or compromised.
150. What is a fuzzing attack in the context of IoT firmware security?
A) Sending malformed inputs to crash or exploit vulnerabilities in firmware
B) Increasing device clock speed
C) Encrypting firmware updates
D) Performing a brute force attack on firmware passwords
✅ Answer: A) Sending malformed inputs to crash or exploit vulnerabilities in firmware
📌 Explanation: Fuzzing is a technique used to identify vulnerabilities by inputting random or malformed data into firmware.
151. What is the risk of leaving debug messages enabled in production firmware?
A) Attackers can use them to gain insights into system behavior and find vulnerabilities
B) They slow down firmware execution
C) They increase battery consumption
D) They improve firmware update efficiency
✅ Answer: A) Attackers can use them to gain insights into system behavior and find vulnerabilities
📌 Explanation: Debug messages often expose internal system details that attackers can use to craft exploits.
152. How can an IoT device verify firmware authenticity before execution?
A) By checking cryptographic signatures against trusted keys
B) By allowing users to inspect the firmware manually
C) By downloading firmware from any source
D) By comparing firmware file sizes
✅ Answer: A) By checking cryptographic signatures against trusted keys
📌 Explanation: Signature verification ensures firmware integrity and prevents unauthorized modifications.
153. Why is encrypted firmware storage recommended for IoT devices?
A) To improve device aesthetics
B) To prevent unauthorized access and reverse engineering
C) To reduce network bandwidth usage
D) To improve device boot speed
✅ Answer: B) To prevent unauthorized access and reverse engineering
📌 Explanation: Encrypted firmware storage ensures that even if attackers gain access to the firmware, they cannot easily analyze or modify it.
154. What type of attack involves altering firmware updates during transmission?
A) Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack
B) SQL Injection
C) Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
D) Directory traversal attack
✅ Answer: A) Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack
📌 Explanation: MitM attacks intercept and modify firmware updates, potentially injecting malicious code.
155. Why should IoT firmware logs be protected?
A) To store logs more efficiently
B) To prevent sensitive system information from being exposed to attackers
C) To reduce firmware size
D) To allow faster firmware execution
✅ Answer: B) To prevent sensitive system information from being exposed to attackers
📌 Explanation: Logs may contain debugging data or sensitive information that attackers can exploit.
156. What is a zero-day vulnerability in firmware security?
A) A vulnerability that has not been discovered by attackers
B) A vulnerability that is publicly known but has no available patch
C) A bug that only affects open-source firmware
D) A weakness in wireless communication
✅ Answer: B) A vulnerability that is publicly known but has no available patch
📌 Explanation: Zero-day vulnerabilities are flaws that are disclosed before a patch is available, making them high-risk security threats.
157. How does firmware execution randomization improve security?
A) By making it harder for attackers to predict memory locations and exploit vulnerabilities
B) By increasing device processing speed
C) By reducing power consumption
D) By enabling faster firmware updates
✅ Answer: A) By making it harder for attackers to predict memory locations and exploit vulnerabilities
📌 Explanation: Execution randomization makes it difficult for attackers to use known memory locations for exploits.
158. What is the primary goal of firmware integrity verification?
A) To improve device boot speed
B) To ensure firmware has not been tampered with before execution
C) To reduce encryption overhead
D) To make firmware updates faster
✅ Answer: B) To ensure firmware has not been tampered with before execution
📌 Explanation: Integrity verification prevents unauthorized modifications, ensuring that firmware remains secure.
159. Why should IoT firmware backups be stored securely?
A) To prevent attackers from restoring compromised firmware versions
B) To allow users to modify firmware easily
C) To speed up firmware updates
D) To increase CPU performance
✅ Answer: A) To prevent attackers from restoring compromised firmware versions
📌 Explanation: Securely stored backups prevent attackers from restoring older, vulnerable firmware.
160. What is an effective method to protect firmware encryption keys?
A) Storing them in a hardware security module (HSM)
B) Embedding them in plaintext within firmware
C) Using factory default keys
D) Storing them in an unprotected file system
✅ Answer: A) Storing them in a hardware security module (HSM)
📌 Explanation: HSMs provide secure storage for encryption keys, preventing unauthorized access.
161. What is a primary benefit of implementing a hardware security module (HSM) in IoT devices?
A) It speeds up firmware updates
B) It securely stores cryptographic keys and prevents unauthorized access
C) It reduces device memory usage
D) It improves wireless connectivity
✅ Answer: B) It securely stores cryptographic keys and prevents unauthorized access
📌 Explanation: HSMs provide a secure storage environment for cryptographic keys, reducing the risk of key exposure and unauthorized firmware modifications.
162. Why should IoT devices implement runtime firmware integrity checks?
A) To prevent unauthorized modifications while the device is operational
B) To speed up firmware execution
C) To enable firmware debugging
D) To improve battery life
✅ Answer: A) To prevent unauthorized modifications while the device is operational
📌 Explanation: Runtime integrity checks ensure firmware has not been tampered with during device operation, improving security against runtime attacks.
163. What type of attack targets firmware vulnerabilities by injecting malicious data into memory?
A) Heap overflow attack
B) Brute force attack
C) Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
D) Social engineering attack
✅ Answer: A) Heap overflow attack
📌 Explanation: Heap overflow attacks exploit weaknesses in memory management, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory and execute arbitrary code.
164. What is a major risk of IoT firmware that lacks proper authentication mechanisms?
A) Unauthorized access and remote exploitation of the device
B) Increased device power consumption
C) Reduced device lifespan
D) Slower firmware execution
✅ Answer: A) Unauthorized access and remote exploitation of the device
📌 Explanation: Without proper authentication, attackers can remotely exploit IoT devices, gaining unauthorized control and potentially injecting malicious firmware.
165. What is the function of a watchdog timer (WDT) in firmware security?
A) To detect and reset the device if a system failure occurs
B) To encrypt firmware before execution
C) To speed up device boot time
D) To disable unauthorized firmware updates
✅ Answer: A) To detect and reset the device if a system failure occurs
📌 Explanation: A watchdog timer helps detect system malfunctions or potential attacks and resets the device to restore normal operation.
166. How does disabling unused firmware features improve security?
A) It reduces the attack surface by eliminating unnecessary vulnerabilities
B) It increases device processing power
C) It speeds up firmware execution
D) It improves firmware debugging
✅ Answer: A) It reduces the attack surface by eliminating unnecessary vulnerabilities
📌 Explanation: Disabling unused features reduces potential entry points for attackers, making the firmware more secure.
167. Why is it important to use strong cryptographic algorithms for firmware encryption?
A) To ensure firmware remains secure against brute force and decryption attacks
B) To improve device boot times
C) To reduce memory usage
D) To enable faster firmware updates
✅ Answer: A) To ensure firmware remains secure against brute force and decryption attacks
📌 Explanation: Strong encryption prevents attackers from decrypting firmware, even if they gain access to the device’s storage.
168. What is a common issue with allowing unverified firmware updates?
A) Attackers can install malicious or tampered firmware updates
B) It speeds up the update process
C) It improves device connectivity
D) It reduces device power consumption
✅ Answer: A) Attackers can install malicious or tampered firmware updates
📌 Explanation: Unverified firmware updates can introduce security risks by allowing unauthorized code execution on the device.
169. How can IoT devices protect against firmware downgrade attacks?
A) By enforcing version control and anti-rollback mechanisms
B) By disabling firmware logging
C) By allowing unsigned firmware updates
D) By using weak encryption keys
✅ Answer: A) By enforcing version control and anti-rollback mechanisms
📌 Explanation: Firmware downgrade protection ensures that attackers cannot revert to older firmware versions that contain known vulnerabilities.
170. What is a primary security risk of using hardcoded credentials in firmware?
A) Attackers can extract and reuse them for unauthorized access
B) It increases device boot time
C) It reduces network bandwidth usage
D) It requires more frequent firmware updates
✅ Answer: A) Attackers can extract and reuse them for unauthorized access
📌 Explanation: Hardcoded credentials in firmware can be easily retrieved from memory dumps, leading to unauthorized access and device compromise.
171. What is the role of memory protection mechanisms in firmware security?
A) To prevent unauthorized access and execution of malicious code
B) To improve battery life
C) To reduce firmware update size
D) To increase CPU performance
✅ Answer: A) To prevent unauthorized access and execution of malicious code
📌 Explanation: Memory protection mechanisms (e.g., NX bit, ASLR) help mitigate memory corruption vulnerabilities and prevent unauthorized code execution.
172. Why should firmware logging mechanisms be properly secured?
A) To prevent sensitive information from being exposed to attackers
B) To enable easier firmware debugging
C) To improve network performance
D) To allow remote firmware updates
✅ Answer: A) To prevent sensitive information from being exposed to attackers
📌 Explanation: Logs may contain sensitive system data that attackers can exploit if not properly secured.
173. What security technique ensures that only authorized firmware is loaded during boot?
A) Secure Boot
B) Over-the-Air (OTA) updates
C) Debugging mode
D) Enabling factory reset
✅ Answer: A) Secure Boot
📌 Explanation: Secure Boot verifies firmware signatures during boot-up, preventing unauthorized firmware from executing.
174. What type of vulnerability allows attackers to execute code by modifying return addresses in memory?
A) Stack-based buffer overflow
B) Network sniffing
C) Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
D) DNS Spoofing
✅ Answer: A) Stack-based buffer overflow
📌 Explanation: Stack-based buffer overflow exploits overwrite return addresses in memory, leading to arbitrary code execution.
175. What is the purpose of firmware redundancy in IoT devices?
A) To enable rollback to a secure version if an update fails
B) To increase processing speed
C) To improve device aesthetics
D) To reduce firmware execution time
✅ Answer: A) To enable rollback to a secure version if an update fails
📌 Explanation: Firmware redundancy ensures that a backup version is available in case an update is corrupted or malicious.
176. Why is it critical to use tamper-proof storage for firmware components?
A) To prevent unauthorized modifications and ensure firmware integrity
B) To improve battery performance
C) To reduce firmware size
D) To enable faster updates
✅ Answer: A) To prevent unauthorized modifications and ensure firmware integrity
📌 Explanation: Tamper-proof storage ensures that firmware components cannot be altered or replaced by unauthorized users.
177. What is the primary risk of allowing remote firmware debugging?
A) Attackers can exploit it to gain unauthorized control over the device
B) It reduces CPU usage
C) It increases firmware update speed
D) It enables faster device execution
✅ Answer: A) Attackers can exploit it to gain unauthorized control over the device
📌 Explanation: Remote debugging interfaces, if left exposed, can be exploited to extract firmware or modify system behavior.
178. What is a side-channel attack on firmware?
A) An attack that exploits indirect data leaks, such as power consumption or electromagnetic emissions
B) A network-based attack on firmware encryption
C) A technique that modifies firmware update packages
D) A method to increase firmware execution speed
✅ Answer: A) An attack that exploits indirect data leaks, such as power consumption or electromagnetic emissions
📌 Explanation: Side-channel attacks analyze physical characteristics to infer sensitive information, such as encryption keys.
179. Why should firmware debugging symbols be removed before release?
A) To prevent attackers from easily analyzing and reverse-engineering firmware
B) To improve device connectivity
C) To allow remote firmware updates
D) To reduce device overheating
✅ Answer: A) To prevent attackers from easily analyzing and reverse-engineering firmware
📌 Explanation: Debugging symbols provide insights into firmware structure and potential vulnerabilities, aiding attackers in exploitation.
180. What does firmware anomaly detection do?
A) Identifies deviations in firmware behavior that may indicate compromise
B) Speeds up firmware execution
C) Reduces power consumption
D) Enables faster updates
✅ Answer: A) Identifies deviations in firmware behavior that may indicate compromise
📌 Explanation: Firmware anomaly detection helps identify potential malware, rootkits, or unauthorized modifications.
181. What is the main goal of a firmware secure update mechanism?
A) To prevent unauthorized modifications and ensure authenticity of firmware updates
B) To reduce network traffic
C) To improve device battery life
D) To allow users to modify firmware at will
✅ Answer: A) To prevent unauthorized modifications and ensure authenticity of firmware updates
📌 Explanation: Secure update mechanisms ensure that only signed and verified firmware updates are installed, preventing unauthorized modifications.
182. Why is firmware access control important in IoT security?
A) To prevent unauthorized users from modifying or executing firmware
B) To increase device processing speed
C) To reduce power consumption
D) To allow faster firmware updates
✅ Answer: A) To prevent unauthorized users from modifying or executing firmware
📌 Explanation: Implementing access controls ensures that only authorized personnel or processes can modify firmware, reducing security risks.
183. What is a potential risk of allowing firmware execution from external storage?
A) Unauthorized execution of malicious firmware
B) Increased device boot times
C) Higher device energy consumption
D) Improved processing efficiency
✅ Answer: A) Unauthorized execution of malicious firmware
📌 Explanation: Allowing firmware execution from external storage can expose devices to malware, unauthorized updates, and security breaches.
184. How does device attestation contribute to IoT firmware security?
A) By verifying the authenticity of the firmware running on a device
B) By improving firmware update speeds
C) By increasing network bandwidth
D) By allowing firmware rollback
✅ Answer: A) By verifying the authenticity of the firmware running on a device
📌 Explanation: Device attestation ensures that only verified and unmodified firmware is executing on an IoT device.
185. What is a primary reason for using hardware-based encryption in firmware security?
A) To offload cryptographic operations from the main processor and enhance security
B) To improve device aesthetics
C) To reduce firmware file sizes
D) To allow unsigned firmware execution
✅ Answer: A) To offload cryptographic operations from the main processor and enhance security
📌 Explanation: Hardware-based encryption ensures strong protection of firmware and cryptographic keys, reducing attack surfaces.
186. What is an effective method to prevent firmware corruption during updates?
A) Using cryptographic hashing and integrity verification
B) Allowing automatic firmware downgrades
C) Using plaintext firmware updates
D) Disabling security checks
✅ Answer: A) Using cryptographic hashing and integrity verification
📌 Explanation: Hashing and integrity checks verify that firmware updates are authentic and unaltered before installation.
187. What is a major risk associated with leaving firmware update ports open on IoT devices?
A) Attackers can use them to install malicious firmware updates remotely
B) It increases power consumption
C) It slows down firmware execution
D) It improves device boot speed
✅ Answer: A) Attackers can use them to install malicious firmware updates remotely
📌 Explanation: Open update ports can be exploited to inject unauthorized firmware, compromising the security of the device.
188. Why should default firmware settings be changed after deployment?
A) To prevent exploitation of known default configurations
B) To improve battery life
C) To increase CPU speed
D) To reduce firmware update times
✅ Answer: A) To prevent exploitation of known default configurations
📌 Explanation: Default settings, such as default passwords or open ports, can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access.
189. What is a firmware downgrade attack, and why is it dangerous?
A) It forces a device to install an older, vulnerable firmware version
B) It speeds up device boot times
C) It increases power efficiency
D) It enables multi-user firmware execution
✅ Answer: A) It forces a device to install an older, vulnerable firmware version
📌 Explanation: Attackers exploit downgrade attacks to install outdated firmware with known security flaws, allowing them to bypass security updates.
190. Why is it important to encrypt firmware stored on IoT devices?
A) To prevent unauthorized access and reverse engineering of firmware
B) To reduce network latency
C) To improve firmware execution speed
D) To enable faster firmware rollbacks
✅ Answer: A) To prevent unauthorized access and reverse engineering of firmware
📌 Explanation: Encrypted firmware prevents attackers from extracting and analyzing the firmware to find vulnerabilities.
191. What is a potential risk of firmware backup features if not secured properly?
A) Attackers can restore an older, compromised firmware version
B) It slows down device boot time
C) It reduces firmware execution speed
D) It improves wireless connectivity
✅ Answer: A) Attackers can restore an older, compromised firmware version
📌 Explanation: Unsecured firmware backups allow attackers to restore vulnerable firmware versions, bypassing security patches.
192. What is the purpose of firmware execution verification?
A) To check if the firmware has been altered before execution
B) To increase firmware execution speed
C) To allow remote firmware debugging
D) To improve network connectivity
✅ Answer: A) To check if the firmware has been altered before execution
📌 Explanation: Execution verification ensures that only trusted firmware is running on the device, preventing unauthorized modifications.
193. Why should firmware debugging interfaces be disabled in production?
A) To prevent attackers from extracting firmware and bypassing security measures
B) To improve battery performance
C) To increase firmware update frequency
D) To enable easier firmware modifications
✅ Answer: A) To prevent attackers from extracting firmware and bypassing security measures
📌 Explanation: Debugging interfaces like JTAG and UART can be exploited to extract firmware or execute arbitrary code.
194. What security measure can prevent firmware tampering on IoT devices?
A) Secure Boot with cryptographic signature verification
B) Disabling firmware updates
C) Using weak encryption algorithms
D) Allowing unsigned firmware execution
✅ Answer: A) Secure Boot with cryptographic signature verification
📌 Explanation: Secure Boot ensures that only trusted and signed firmware is executed, preventing unauthorized modifications.
195. How does firmware segmentation improve IoT security?
A) By isolating different components to prevent system-wide compromise
B) By reducing firmware size
C) By increasing firmware update speed
D) By allowing firmware rollback
✅ Answer: A) By isolating different components to prevent system-wide compromise
📌 Explanation: Firmware segmentation prevents a single vulnerability from compromising the entire system.
196. Why is logging firmware updates important for security monitoring?
A) To track unauthorized attempts to modify firmware
B) To reduce device processing power
C) To improve firmware execution time
D) To increase battery life
✅ Answer: A) To track unauthorized attempts to modify firmware
📌 Explanation: Logging firmware updates helps security teams monitor for suspicious activity and unauthorized modifications.
197. How does firmware sandboxing improve security?
A) By isolating untrusted firmware processes from the main system
B) By increasing firmware update frequency
C) By improving battery efficiency
D) By reducing encryption overhead
✅ Answer: A) By isolating untrusted firmware processes from the main system
📌 Explanation: Sandboxing prevents malware or unauthorized code from affecting the entire system.
198. Why should IoT firmware avoid storing sensitive credentials in plaintext?
A) To prevent attackers from easily extracting and misusing them
B) To increase firmware update speed
C) To improve device boot time
D) To reduce network congestion
✅ Answer: A) To prevent attackers from easily extracting and misusing them
📌 Explanation: Plaintext credentials can be extracted from firmware dumps, leading to security breaches.
199. What is a primary reason to implement runtime firmware integrity checks?
A) To detect and prevent unauthorized firmware modifications while the device is operational
B) To reduce firmware execution speed
C) To improve device aesthetics
D) To enable remote firmware modifications
✅ Answer: A) To detect and prevent unauthorized firmware modifications while the device is operational
📌 Explanation: Runtime integrity checks continuously monitor firmware for unauthorized changes.
200. How does firmware code obfuscation improve security?
A) By making reverse engineering and exploitation more difficult
B) By improving firmware update speed
C) By enabling firmware rollback
D) By increasing network bandwidth
✅ Answer: A) By making reverse engineering and exploitation more difficult
📌 Explanation: Obfuscation makes it harder for attackers to analyze firmware and find vulnerabilities.