In security operations, what do 'false positives' refer to?

'False positives' in security operations refer specifically to alerts indicating a threat that is not actually present. This occurs when security systems or tools flag benign activities or events as potential security threats. For instance, during the monitoring of network traffic, a legitimate user's activity could be misinterpreted as malicious, triggering an alert that creates unnecessary concern.

This concept is critical in the field of cybersecurity because excessive false positives can lead to alert fatigue. Security professionals may become overwhelmed with alerts that require investigation, which can cause them to overlook real threats. Therefore, understanding and managing false positives is essential for maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of security operations.

The other options do not accurately define false positives. Legitimate threats that are missed refer to false negatives, where real issues are not detected. Test alerts generated by security systems relate to the process of validating system responses without indicating actual threats. Ineffective security measures refer to tools or policies that fail to prevent attacks, which is a different concern entirely.