What is the 'Cold Start' problem in anomaly detection?
Updated May 5, 2026
Short answer
When a new system or user has no historical data for a baseline[cite: 1].
Deep explanation
Without history, the model cannot distinguish between a new user's valid behavior and an anomaly[cite: 1].
Real-world example
A new bank account where any large transaction might look suspicious[cite: 1].
Common mistakes
- Flagging all new users as anomalies[cite: 1].
Follow-up questions
- How to solve it?