A False Negative occurs when a system fails to detect a real problem, threat, or condition and incorrectly reports that everything is normal. This can happen when detection systems miss important signals because of incomplete data, unusual conditions, poor-quality input, or limitations in the detection method. Unlike a false alarm, a false negative can allow an actual issue to go unnoticed.
For example, a security camera system may fail to recognize an unauthorized person in a poorly lit area. Similarly, equipment monitoring software may report a machine as healthy even though early signs of failure are present. False negatives are important to address in security, healthcare, manufacturing, and system monitoring. Reducing them helps organizations detect genuine issues earlier, improve reliability, and prevent potentially serious consequences.
