An embedded computer is a computing system built into another device or object, where the hardware and software serve a specific function rather than acting like a general-purpose PC. It may control a toy, appliance, vehicle component, or other product, often with limited storage, custom firmware, and few visible controls. In cyber security, embedded computers matter because their small size does not make them low risk: they still run code, store data, and communicate with other systems.
Attackers target embedded computers by exploiting weak firmware, default credentials, exposed debug ports, or insecure update mechanisms. Defenders look for the same issues during review: verify update integrity, inventory exposed interfaces, and patch or replace unsupported devices. In practice, the security questions are the same as for any endpoint: what software runs on it, how it is maintained, and what it can reach on the network.