Victims of Wannacry Hack Attackshed Tears of Rage

June20, 2017 Vol. 252

by Jason Grenier, special correspondent

Victims of WannaCry Hack AttackShed Tears of Rage

It was an experience many computer users would never forget: turning on their computersorlaptops only to find all their files had been renamed by the hackers, and being unable to access the contents.

Instead, a red dialogue box appeared on the screen with the disturbing message “Oops, your files have been encrypted”, letting the users know they were locked out. The screen also informed the victims that the only way to regain control over their files was to meet the hackers’ demands. The price to unlock the encrypted files is 300 US dollars. The ransom is payable in bitcoin, which is a kind of virtual currency favored by high-tech wizards for e-commerce. The attackers knew exactly what they were doing: bitcoin has the advantages of being both instantlytransferable and untraceable.

In order to add a sense of urgency to it, the hackers included a pair of ticking countdownclocks with their message. The first warned the users if they didn’t pay within three days, the asking price would double. The second threatened that the files would be lost forever if the hackers had not been paidoff after a week.

A great number of computers around the globe were affected. In addition to individuals, institutions like hospitalsand schools were hit, as were some transportation networks.The attack was mainly targeted at Windows 7 computers that had a security flaw due to a missed update. Unlike traditional viruses that relied on fake emails and links, this malware spread without having computer users click on or install anything. For the unfortunate users whose computers weren’t updated and protected, it was like their worst nightmare has come true.Distressed at the violation of their private data, many burst into tears of helplessness, frustration, and rage.

Anticipating this very reaction, the designers of the virus, who gained control over the victims’ computers as well as externalharddrives linked to them, decided to call their high-tech weapon “WannaCry.”Internet security experts call this type of virus “ransomware.” This raises the question of whether those whose files have become virtual captivesof WannaCry should pay or not.Some experts advise that it’s better not to pay, since victims are dealing with real-life criminals. Thereis no guaranteehackers will restorethe files once the ransom is paid.

Reading Comprehension

( ) 1. what is the main idea of this passage?

(A) A general introduction to a kind of virtual currency.

(B) A close look at the ransomware “WannaCry.”

(D) The development of online services and e-commerce.

( ) 2. According to the passage, which of the statements about the WannaCry hack attack is true?

(A) The hackers changed the users’ computer clocks into countdown clocks.

(B) Computers and laptops that had a security flaw were the main target.

(D) The hackers stole people’s laptops and used them to commit crimes.

( ) 3. The word “distressed” in the fourth paragraph is closest in meaning to “______.”

(A) indifferent (B) excited (C) amused (D) upset

( ) 4. What can be inferred from the passage?

(A) If the victim didn’t pay within seven days, the price would double.

(B) Thehackers anticipated many computer users would burst into tears of joy.

(D) The price to unlock the encrypted files was 300 US dollars, payable in cash.

( ) 5. According to the passage, why do some experts suggest victims should not pay the ransom?

(A) Thehackers might leave the files locked even after the users have paid the ransom.

(B) If paid, the hackers may demand bitcoin payments from the users’ trusted contacts.

(D) The users have backed up their important files on external hard drives.

Vocabulary and Phrases

1. shedvt. 哭，流淚

．I shed tears in sorrowduring my father’s funeral.

2. contentsn. pl.所含物，內容

．After going through the contents of the flight attendant’s luggage, the customs officers found some illegal drugs.

3. disturbingadj.令人不安的

．Everyone is shocked by the disturbing news of the terrorist attack, which left 22 people dead. 4. regainvt. 重新獲得，恢復

．Peggy regained the ability to walk after months of physical therapy.

5. unlockvt. 開…的鎖

．As soon as Ethan keyed in the correct password, the safe clicked open and was unlocked.

6. ransomn. [C]贖金

．The kidnappers demanded a ten-million-dollar ransom for the safe return of the rich businessman.

7. payableadj.應付的

．The price of this diamond ring is payable in monthly instalments.

8. wizardn. [C]行家，能手

．Frank, who has made a fortune by investing in stocks and shares, is a real wizard at making money.

9. instantlyadv. 立即，馬上

．When the famous writer’s new detective novel was published, it instantly became a big hit.

10. urgency[]n. [U] 迫切，緊急

．This is a matter of great urgency. We should seek professional assistance immediately.

11. threatenvt.威脅，恐嚇

．Susan threatened to leave her boyfriend if he went out with other girls again.

12. payoffphr.付清，償清

．Mark took on three part-time jobs so as to pay off his huge debts.

13. institutionn. [C]機構

．A bank is a financial institution for people to withdraw and deposit money.

14. networkn. [C]網絡，網狀系統

．The rail network in this country is well-developed, making transportation there very convenient.

15. fakeadj.假的

．The suspect gave a fake name in order to deceive the police.

16. distress[]vt. 使煩惱，使苦惱

．The bad news that he lost his seat in the election distressed the candidate greatly.

17. frustrationn. [U]失意，挫敗

．I can feel Nicole’s deep frustration at not being able to find a job after graduation from college.

18. externaladj.外部的

．The moisturizing cream is for external use only.

19. captiven. [C] 囚徒，俘虜

．The veteran still remembers the painful experience of being a captive for two years during World War II.

20. guaranteen. [C] 起保證作用的事物

．Fred realizes that there is no guarantee of success, and thus he works his tail off to gain promotion.

Words for Recognition

1.WannaCryn.(電腦網路勒索病毒)想哭

是種新型態的電腦網路勒索病毒，該病毒會將用戶的檔案加密封鎖，並藉此要求用戶給付比特幣贖金來解除鎖定。

2. encryptvt. 把…加密

加密是將資料加以編碼的數學演算法，將原文轉換成無法辨識或錯亂的字符或亂碼，只有預設的對象才能夠讀取。

3. bitcoinn. 比特幣

在2009年，由化名為中本聰的匿名人士所發表網路虛擬貨幣的概念，沒有發行單位及中間機構的開放型P2P電子貨幣，並透過安全性網路加密來確保貨幣的安全性。

4.e-commercen. [U] 電子商務

指的是透過電子化技術(通常是網路)來進行交易、訊息傳遞的商業模式，除了一般的買賣貿易行為外，也包括電子銀行、資訊化的物流、倉儲管理等。

5.transferableadj.可轉移的

6.untraceableadj.難以追蹤的

7.countdownclockn. [C]倒數計時器

8.malware [m] n.[U] 惡意軟體

9.harddriven. 硬碟

10.ransomwaren. [U]勒索軟體

勒索軟體通常透過木馬病毒的方式傳播，例如透過下載檔案夾帶或藉由網路系統的漏洞來入侵他人的電腦。

Translation

勒索病毒「想哭」駭客攻擊的受害者生氣落淚

這是許多電腦用戶永遠忘不掉的經驗：打開他們的電腦或筆電後，發現所有的檔案都被駭客改了檔名、無法開啟內容。

取而代之的是，螢幕上出現一則紅色對話框，發布惱人訊息：「糟糕，你的檔案已被加密。」，讓用戶知道他們被鎖碼。螢幕也告知受害者，唯一能重新取得檔案的方式是滿足駭客要求。為檔案解鎖的代價是300美元。贖金以比特幣支付，這是一種科技高手進行電子商務時偏好的虛擬貨幣。駭客很清楚自己在做什麼：比特幣具有立即轉帳和無法追蹤的特點。

為了增加緊迫感，駭客在訊息內加入兩個倒數計時器。第一個警告用戶，如果不在三天內付款，勒贖金額將會提高一倍。第二個則威脅，如果一周後駭客還沒收到贖金，檔案將永久遺失。

全球各地的電腦都遭殃。除了個人，醫院和學校等機構，以及部分交通運輸網絡也受創。這次的攻擊主要瞄準因為沒有更新而有安全漏洞的Windows 7電腦。不像以往的病毒是靠假電郵及連結，這個惡意軟體無須使用者點擊或安裝任何東西就能散佈。對於電腦沒有更新而不幸未受保護的用戶來說，這就像是最糟的惡夢成真。許多人因個人檔案被劫而苦惱不堪，流下無助、挫敗和憤怒的眼淚。

料想到用戶會有如此反應，那些駭進用戶電腦以及任何相連結外部硬碟的程式設計師，決定將他們的高科技武器取名為「想哭」。網路資安專家稱這種病毒為「勒贖軟體」。這些狀況引發問題，對於檔案被「想哭」挾持的那些人來說到底該不該支付贖金。一些專家建議最好別付，因為受害者是在跟現實生活的罪犯打交道。不能保證付贖金後，駭客就會釋回檔案。

閱讀測驗解答：1.B 2.B 3. D 4. C 5.A

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