VOA慢速英语--美国法院判处一名俄罗斯男子网络犯罪

AS IT IS 2016-05-08 Russian Sentenced to 10 Years in US for Cybercrime 美国法院判处一名俄罗斯男子网络犯罪

This week, a court in the United States sentenced a Russian man charged with creating a modern form of cybercrime. 

About 10 years ago, Nikita Kuzmin created a malicious¹ software program called Gozi.

Gozi came to a user’s computer through a file, such as a PDF, that looked normal. However, when the file was opened, Gozi attacked the person’s computer.

The user had no idea the malware was running. As a result, the software could easily collect information, such as a bank username and password, and send the data back to hackers³.

Gozi eventually infected more than 1 million computers. It caused tens of millions of dollars in damages. The infected computers included hundreds at NASA, America’s space agency.

Kuzman said he did not steal bank account information himself. Instead, he made money by providing Gozi to others who did not know how to create malware themselves.

Then Kuzman collected part of whatever those hackers stole. Court documents report that he earned at least $250,000.

Federal prosecutors⁴ charged Kuzmin with conspiracy⁵, bank fraud and computer intrusion. But they say Kuzmin’s crimes are much bigger than stealing.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara noted⁶ that the cybercrimes cannot be stopped by arresting one person.

"Because Kuzmin sold the Gozi source code to others, Gozi can be used by others, and it is in fact still in wide use by criminals today," Bharara told the court.

He called Kuzmin greedy. He noted Kuzmin's computer science education and legal business projects.

"Kuzmin used his talent and skills to create malware with the single purpose of stealing other people's money, and when he succeeded in doing that, he spent lavish⁷ sums on luxury sports cars, and extravagant⁸ travel and entertainment in Europe and Russia."

The court said Kuzmin's punishment is the 37 months he has already spent in prison. The court ordered him to pay $6.9 million for banks’ losses. 

Kuzmin earned a lighter⁹ sentence after helping¹⁰ the government investigate other people accused of cybercrimes: Latvian national Deniss Calovskis and Romanian Mihai Paunescu.

Words in This Story

cybercrime – n. a crime done through a computer or other electronic device

malicious – adj. having or showing a desire to cause harm to others

malware – n. a software program designed to interfere¹¹ with a computer’s normal operations

hacker² – n. someone who secretly uses a computer system to get information or cause damage

greedy – adj. having or showing a selfish desire to have more of something

lavish – adj. giving or using a large amount of something

1 malicious   

adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的

参考例句：

• You ought to kick back at such malicious slander. 你应当反击这种恶毒的污蔑。
• Their talk was slightly malicious.他们的谈话有点儿心怀不轨。

2 hacker   

n.能盗用或偷改电脑中信息的人，电脑黑客

参考例句：

• The computer hacker wrote that he was from Russia.这个计算机黑客自称他来自俄罗斯。
• This site was attacked by a hacker last week.上周这个网站被黑客攻击了。

3 hackers   

n.计算机迷( hacker的名词复数 )；私自存取或篡改电脑资料者，电脑“黑客”

参考例句：

• They think of viruses that infect an organization from the outside.They envision hackers breaking into their information vaults. 他们考虑来自外部的感染公司的病毒，他们设想黑客侵入到信息宝库中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Arranging a meeting with the hackers took weeks againoff-again email exchanges. 通过几星期电子邮件往来安排见面，他们最终同意了。 来自互联网

4 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

5 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 lavish   

adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍

参考例句：

• He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
• The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

8 extravagant   

adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的

参考例句：

• They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
• He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。

9 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

10 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

11 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。