Threats to IT Systems: Categories and Classifications

Common Categories of Threats to IT Systems

Prev Question Next Question

Question

Which of the following is NOT a common category/classification of threat to an IT system?

Answers

Explanations

Click on the arrows to vote for the correct answer

A. B. C. D.

D.

Hackers are classified as a human threat and not a classification by itself.

All the other answers are incorrect.

Threats result from a variety of factors, although they are classified in three types: Natural (e.g., hurricane, tornado, flood and fire), human (e.g.

operator error, sabotage, malicious code) or technological (e.g.

equipment failure, software error, telecommunications network outage, electric power failure)

http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-34-rev1/sp800-34-rev1_errata-

Threats to an IT system can be classified into various categories or classifications, based on their origin or nature. The commonly accepted categories of threat are Human, Natural, and Technological. Hackers, on the other hand, are not considered a separate category of threat.

Let's take a closer look at each of the categories of threat:

  1. Human: Human threats are caused by individuals or groups of people who intentionally or unintentionally compromise the security of the IT system. Examples of human threats include insider threats, social engineering attacks, and human error.

  2. Natural: Natural threats are caused by natural disasters or events that are beyond human control. Examples of natural threats include earthquakes, floods, fires, and lightning strikes.

  3. Technological: Technological threats are caused by the use of technology, such as software bugs, malware, viruses, and hardware failures.

  4. Hackers: Hackers are not a separate category of threat. Instead, they are individuals or groups who use technology to gain unauthorized access to IT systems, steal information, or cause damage to the system. Hackers can fall under the human or technological category of threat, depending on their methods and motives.

In summary, the correct answer to the question is D. Hackers are not a common category or classification of threat to an IT system. Instead, they can be considered a subset of the human or technological category of threat, depending on their methods and motives.