What does a "False Positive" indicate?

A "False Positive" indicates that a system or security measure has incorrectly identified a normal activity as a malicious attack. This can occur when security tools such as intrusion detection systems (IDS), firewalls, or antivirus software misinterpret benign actions or events as threats. False positives are significant because they can lead to unnecessary alerts, resource allocation to investigate non-existent threats, and potential disruptions in legitimate business operations. Recognizing this is crucial for security professionals, as they must balance detection accuracy to minimize both false positives and false negatives in their security protocols.