Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

How can 'jailbreaking' a device affect data security?

1. Enhances security measures

2. Bypasses encryption protections

3. Restricts access to sensitive data

4. Defaults all settings to secure

The correct answer is: Bypasses encryption protections

Jailbreaking a device primarily affects data security by bypassing the inherent security measures that the device's operating system imposes. When a device is jailbroken, the user gains unauthorized root access, which allows them to install applications and tweaks that are not approved by the official app store. This can undermine the built-in encryption protections that safeguard user data. By bypassing these protections, malware can more easily be installed on the device, which in turn can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information such as personal files, passwords, and financial data. Jailbreaking ultimately opens up potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited by malicious actors, thus significantly compromising data security. In comparison, enhancing security measures, restricting access to sensitive data, and defaulting settings to secure are contrary to the implications of jailbreaking, as they are associated with maintaining or improving security rather than undermining it.