What is a False Positive?

False positive refers to an event that is mistakenly detected or identified as positive or harmful when it is not harmful or non-threatening. False positives occur when a security system, such as an antivirus program or intrusion detection system, incorrectly labels safe or innocent activities or files as dangerous or suspicious. If not effectively managed and reduced, false positives can result in pointless alarms, resource waste, and potential disruptions to regular operations.