What best describes the security challenge presented by rooted smartphones?

Rooted smartphones present a significant security challenge primarily due to their increased susceptibility to control loss. Rooting a smartphone typically involves gaining administrative privileges, which can, in turn, bypass many of the built-in security measures originally designed to protect the device. As a result, when a device is rooted, malicious software can more easily execute harmful operations, such as stealing data, installing unwanted applications, or even compromising other connected systems.

Moreover, the process of rooting can inadvertently expose a device to numerous vulnerabilities, as it often involves modifying the operating system that may remove security patches or weaken the defenses against malware. Ultimately, users who root their devices could become vulnerable to a range of threats because the security model designed to isolate apps and protect sensitive user data is undermined.

In contrast, lowered maintenance costs, improved security compliance, and enhanced data backup capabilities are not accurate descriptions of the threats posed by rooted smartphones. Rooting generally complicates maintenance and security compliance and can adversely affect data integrity and backup reliability.