What Does vulnerability Mean
The first step to thoroughly analyze the term vulnerability is to proceed to determine its etymological origin. In this case, we have to highlight that said word emanates from Latin because it is made up of three clearly differentiated Latin parts: the noun vulnus , which can be translated as “wound”; the particle - abilis , which is equivalent to "that can"; and finally the suffix - nity , which is indicative of "quality". Hence, vulnerability can be determined as "the quality that someone has to be able to be hurt."
Vulnerability is the quality of vulnerable (that is susceptible to being hurt or hurt either physically or morally ). The concept can be applied to a person or a social group according to their ability to prevent, resist and overcome an impact . Vulnerable people are those who, for various reasons, do not have this capacity developed and who, therefore, are at risk.
Children, women and the elderly are often considered to be subjects in vulnerable situations. This conception is given by the physical deficiencies or differences before men , who are supposed to be naturally prepared to face certain threats. A typical example to explain the concept that society has regarding vulnerability occurs when a ship is sinking and the first to be rescued are the aforementioned groups (children, women and the elderly). It is believed that men are more likely to resist and help others.
Vulnerability is also given by social and cultural conditions . In this sense, a person who lives on the street is vulnerable to various risks ( diseases , attacks, robberies, etc.). On the other hand, an illiterate individual is also in a vulnerable situation since it is difficult for them to access the labor market and, therefore, satisfy their needs.
In the field of computing and technology in general, the term vulnerability is also frequently used. In this case, it is used to refer to all the weak or fragile points that a specific program is considered to have and that can cause it to be attacked by viruses of various types.
In the same way, when a file or piece of software is said to have vulnerability problems, it is being referred to as having security gaps that can allow intruders and pirates to enter that could jeopardize its confidentiality or integrity.
Likewise, we must not overlook the fact that vulnerability is also discussed in various board games. A clear example of this is bridge where it is considered that couples who have already won a set are vulnerable as opposed to those who have not won any.
Another application of vulnerability, finally, is related to natural disasters . A vulnerable area is one that appears exposed to a potentially destructive phenomenon (for example, a developed town at the foot of an active volcano).
The resilience that the population may have, the infrastructure it possesses or its governments are other factors that can make one place more vulnerable than another to certain catastrophes of this type.