Welcome to the lesson on Identifying and Understanding Threats, Risks, and Vulnerabilities in cybersecurity. To kick off, let's watch a brief video that introduces these key concepts and their importance in protecting digital assets. [Insert Video Link Here]

In cybersecurity, understanding the difference between threats, risks, and vulnerabilities is crucial. A threat is any potential danger that could exploit a vulnerability to breach security and cause harm. For example, a hacker attempting to gain unauthorized access to a system is a threat. Threats can come from a variety of sources:

Cybercriminals: Hackers, nation-state actors, or insider threats.
Malware & Exploits: Viruses, ransomware, and phishing attacks.
Natural Disasters: Fire, flood, or earthquakes affecting infrastructure.
Human Errors: Accidental data deletion or misconfiguration leading to exposure.

A vulnerability is a weakness in a system that can be exploited by a threat. This could be a software bug, an unpatched system, or even human error. For instance, using outdated software that lacks security updates is a vulnerability.

Risk is the potential for loss or damage when a threat exploits a vulnerability. It is often calculated as a combination of the likelihood of the threat occurring and the impact it would have. For example, the risk of a data breach increases if sensitive data is stored without encryption.

Risk = Threat x Vulnerability x Impact

Likelihood: How probable is the threat?
Severity: What is the impact if the threat materializes?
Mitigation: How can we reduce risk through controls and protections?

Threat Classification

Threat Type	Description
Physical Threats	Theft, damage, or unauthorized physical access.
Internal Threats	Disgruntled employees, accidental mishaps, or insider attacks.
External Threats	Hackers, cyberattacks, and malware infections.
Social Engineering	Phishing, pretexting, or impersonation attacks.
Zero-Day Exploits	Previously unknown vulnerabilities that get exploited.