Term: vulnerability

Vulnerability (noun) /ˌvʌl.nər.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/:

1. The state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally. LV: ievainojamība, neaizsargātība.
2. In computing, a weakness in a system or network that can be exploited by an attacker to gain unauthorized access. LV: (sistēmas) drošības caurums, ievainojamība.

Example sentences:

1. The charity works to reduce the vulnerability of homeless people during the cold winter months.
2. The software update was released specifically to fix a critical vulnerability in the browser.
3. She showed great courage by speaking openly about her emotional vulnerability.

Common phrases:

• Exploit a vulnerability: To take advantage of a weakness to cause harm or gain access.”Hackers often exploit a vulnerability in outdated software to steal data.”
• Security vulnerability: A specific flaw in a security system.”A weak password is a common security vulnerability in many small businesses.”
• Vulnerability scan: An automated process used to identify potential weaknesses in a network.”The IT department performs a weekly vulnerability scan to stay ahead of threats.”