What are security threats or security vulnerabilities?
Security threats typically are a known vulnerabilities or weaknesses in an operating system or program you may use. Malicious hackers or organizations may attempt to use these vulnerabilities to run programs on your computer, access data on your computer, or even gain access to information that would normally be confidential, such as passwords or personal identification information. Because these vulnerabilities are easily exploited over the Internet, it is common for these security threats to affect programs used with the Internet, such as web browsers, e-mail clients, and even your operating system itself. As security threats are identified, software manufacturers often release patches, updates, service packs, or instructions on how you can protect your computer against these vulnerabilities.
