Final answer:
A false positive in vulnerability scanning occurs when the scanner incorrectly flags a non-existent vulnerability, often due to incorrect configuration, incompatibility, or insufficient scanning. False negatives, on the other hand, happen when the scanner misses actual vulnerabilities. If a patient tests negative on a highly sensitive test, they are likely not infected.
Step-by-step explanation:
A false positive in the context of vulnerability scanning is an error in which the scanner incorrectly indicates that a vulnerability exists on a system when it does not. There are a number of reasons why a vulnerability scanner might produce false positives. One reason could be an incorrect configuration of the scanner, which leads to misinterpretation of system responses as vulnerabilities. Additionally, incompatibility with the system's operating system could cause the scanner to incorrectly identify vulnerabilities because it may not understand how to properly assess the OS or applications running on it. Finally, insufficient scanning coverage can also lead to false positives if the scanner is not assessing all relevant areas of the system and is making incorrect assumptions based on incomplete data.
Conversely, a false negative occurs when a vulnerability scanner fails to detect an existing vulnerability. Common reasons for false negatives include the scanner's inability to detect newly discovered vulnerabilities that are not yet in its database, limitations in the scanner's detection capabilities, and security controls that can block the scanner from identifying certain vulnerabilities.
If a patient tests negative on a highly sensitive test, it usually suggests a low likelihood of the person being infected with the pathogen. High sensitivity means the test is capable of detecting even small amounts of the pathogen, making true infection unlikely if the test result is negative.