Threat, vulnerability, risk

✅ 1. Threat

A Threat is anything that has the potential to cause harm to a system, network, or data. It is a possible danger that can exploit a vulnerability and lead to a security breach or data loss.

🔑 Key points about Threats:

• It can be intentional (e.g., hackers) or accidental (e.g., human error).

• Represents the "who or what" that might cause harm.

⚠️ Examples of Threats:

Type of Threat	Example
Human (Malicious)	Hackers, insider threats, cybercriminals
Human (Accidental)	Employees sending sensitive data to the wrong recipient
Natural	Earthquakes, floods damaging servers
Technical Failures	Hardware failures, power outages

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✅ 2. Vulnerability

A Vulnerability is a weakness or flaw in a system that can be exploited by a threat to cause harm. It is the gap that makes a system susceptible to attacks.

🔑 Key points about Vulnerabilities:

• Can be caused by software bugs, misconfigurations, poor security practices.

• Represents "where the system is weak".

🧨 Examples of Vulnerabilities:

Vulnerability Type	Example
Software bugs	Unpatched operating system, app vulnerabilities
Weak passwords	Using "123456" as a password
Misconfiguration	Open ports, unnecessary services running
Lack of encryption	Transmitting data in plain text
Social engineering weakness	Employees clicking on phishing links

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✅ 3. Risk

Risk is the potential for loss or damage when a threat exploits a vulnerability. It is a combination of threat + vulnerability + impact.

🔑 Key points about Risk:

• Represents the likelihood of a threat exploiting a vulnerability and the consequences.

• Risk = Threat x Vulnerability x Impact

⚙️ Examples of Risk:

Threat	Vulnerability	Risk
Hacker (threat)	Unpatched system (vulnerability)	System breach and data theft
Employee mistakes (threat)	Lack of training (vulnerability)	Accidental data leakage
Flood (threat)	No disaster recovery plan (vulnerability)	Permanent data loss, downtime

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🧠 Simple Example to Understand:

Imagine a house:

• Threat: A burglar wanting to break in.

• Vulnerability: An unlocked window.

• Risk: If the burglar enters through the unlocked window, they can steal valuables.

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🚨 Summary Table:

Concept	What is it?	Example
Threat	Something that can cause harm	Hacker, malware, flood
Vulnerability	Weakness that can be exploited	Unpatched software, weak passwords
Risk	Potential loss if a threat exploits a vulnerability	Data breach due to hacker using weak password

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✅ Key Formula (Simplified):

iniCopyEditRisk = Threat × Vulnerability × Impact

If you remove one (e.g., fix vulnerabilities), the risk is reduced or eliminated.