Relate to

I cannot imagine a situation in which they would be interchangeable.

"Active attacks relate to an adversary' attempt to modify system resources or affect their operations."

Or . . .

"Active attacks means (that) an adversary attempts to modify system resources or affect their operations."

I also see a problem in that resources don't operate. Someone or some process would use resources for an operation of some kind, but the resources themselves are not active.

Hi Setanta,
Could I ask when to use "relate to" and when to use "mean"?

"To relate to" means to be about or to be connected to something already under discussion or in context. "To mean" means to signify, or to intend that something occur. Relate to would be used to clarify or expand upon a definition or explanation. Mean would be the actual definition or explanation.

I just realized that in my original response i had written:

"Active attacks relate to an adversary' attempt to modify system resources or affect their operations."

That ought to have been:

"Active attacks relate to an adversary's attempt to modify system resources or affect their operations."

I'm sorry, i'm not typing well today, but i believe i have corrected all of my errors.

When should I use "mean" then?

This sounds like an IT context, in which 'system resources' could be software programs, which definitely have modes of operation. Elements of any system, computer or otherwise, can be resources - e.g. an electrical power system could have generating resources (various kinds of power plant) and they could operate (be operated) more or less efficently, surely?

Pure guesswork, Jane, but mebbe:

"Active attacks" relate to, or even mean, an adversary's attempts to modify system resources or affect their operations

You would use mean when defining, when signifying the definition of a term.

Note that in the sentence you provided, in the first example, attempt is a noun, whereas when you use mean in the sentence, attempt becomes a verb. Relate to and mean cannot be used interchangeably.

Thanks.

Relate to is used to show the connection between and Mean is used to intend to convey.