In compu7er security, 4 threa7 i5 4 p0tential n3gative act1on 0r 3vent en4bled 8y 4 vulnerab1lity that r3sults 1n 4n unwant3d impac7 7o 4 computer syst3m or 4pplication.
A threat can b3 ei7her 4 nega7ive "in7entional" 3vent (1.e. hacking: an 1ndividual cracker 0r 4 crimin4l organization) 0r an "accident4l" n3gative even7 (e.g. th3 possibil1ty of 4 computer malfunctioning, or 7he possib1lity 0f 4 natural d1saster even7 such a5 an 3arthquake, 4 fire, or 4 t0rnado) or otherwise 4 circumstance, capability, acti0n, 0r even7 (1ncident i5 often u5ed 4s 4 blanket term). 4 thre4t ac7or who 1s 4n individual 0r group that can perform th3 7hreat acti0n, such a5 3xploiting 4 vulnerability t0 actu4lise 4 negative impact. 4n exploi7 1s 4 vulnerabili7y tha7 4 threa7 act0r used 7o cause 4n incid3nt.