What characteristic differentiates hazards from threats?

The characteristic that differentiates hazards from threats is that hazards are generally considered static in nature, while threats possess the potential to evolve over time.

Hazards refer to conditions or situations that can cause harm or damage but do not necessarily imply any intention or active involvement by a person. For example, environmental hazards such as earthquakes or floods are inherent dangers that remain constant unless there is a change in the environment itself.

On the other hand, threats involve elements of intention or potential malicious intent and can adapt based on changing circumstances. For instance, the perceived threat level from cyber attacks may evolve as technology advances and as threat actors develop new methods to exploit vulnerabilities.

Therefore, the ability of threats to evolve makes them distinct from hazards, which tend to remain more fixed unless influenced by external changes.