Threat (computer security)

In <a href="/facts/Computer_security/7E5dIy7G">computer security</a>, a threat is a potential negative action or event enabled by a <a href="/facts/Vulnerability_(computing)/jg0Gr71M">vulnerability</a> that results in an unwanted impact to a computer system or application.
A threat can be either a negative "<a href="/facts/Intention/ahzUpq2G">intentional</a>" event (i.e. hacking: an individual cracker or a criminal organization) or an "<a href="/facts/Accident/udpQ3oAD">accidental</a>" negative event (e.g. the possibility of a computer malfunctioning, or the possibility of a <a href="/facts/Natural_disaster/cCSK2uH0">natural disaster</a> event such as an <a href="/facts/Earthquake/NGjIzagw">earthquake</a>, a <a href="/facts/Fire/M6XwR3am">fire</a>, or a <a href="/facts/Tornado/HSGNQzHa">tornado</a>) or otherwise a circumstance, capability, action, or event (incident is often used as a blanket term). A <a href="/facts/Threat_actor/7MMDYfDb">threat actor</a> who is an individual or group that can perform the threat action, such as exploiting a vulnerability to actualise a negative impact. An <a href="/facts/Exploit_(computer_security)/EdlqsRJM">exploit</a> is a vulnerability that a threat actor used to cause an incident.

Threat (computer security) open-in-new

Threat (computer security)