An embedded system is a dedicated controller inside a larger system. Examples of devices with embedded systems included smart phones, microwaves, thermostats, airplanes, cars, medical imaging equipment, and more. Many of these embedded systems require real time communications such as temperature control for homes, vital sign monitoring for medical equipment, guidance systems and GPS receivers for airplanes, anti-lock breaking systems for cars and more.
Approximately 99% of CPUs sold belong to embedded devices and by 2022 it is expected that every home will have approximately 50 embedded devices. If not secured, each of these can not only be attacked themselves, by also pose as a gateway into your personal data stored elsewhere.