VOA慢速英语2021--勒索软件为何如此危险且难阻止

Why Is It Difficult to Stop Ransomware Attacks?

In recent weeks, computer-based criminals have stopped the operations of U.S. schools and hospitals, published secret files and caused fuel shortages. They also have threatened global food supply networks.

The purpose of these actions is to gain money by forcing the target to pay what is known as ransom¹ in exchange for releasing control of computer systems. The software these criminals use is called ransomware. Reporters have started calling the groups carrying out the attacks "ransomware gangs" or "cybercriminals."

The growing problems caused by these gangs raise a clear question: Why has the United States looked so powerless to protect its citizens from these kinds of criminals?

On Monday, however, the government signaled that it could move against the cybercriminals by recovering ransom money.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said at a news conference that the Justice Department has recovered most of a multimillion-dollar ransom payment to hackers³ by the operator of the nation's largest fuel pipeline⁴.

Colonial Pipeline, in the U.S. state of Georgia, supplies almost half the fuel used on the country's eastern coast. The company temporarily shut down its operations on May 7 after a gang of criminal hackers called DarkSide illegally entered its computer system. Colonial officials said they closed their pipeline system and decided⁵ to pay a ransom of about $4.4 million so they could restart as soon as possible.

Monday's announcement was the first time the government has said that it had recovered money from the Russia-based gang. U.S. officials say they are dealing⁶ with the threat of computer attacks aggressively.

Monaco said, "We will continue to use all of our tools and all of our resources to increase the costs and the consequences of ransomware attacks and other cyber-enabled attacks."

President Joe Biden plans to meet Russia's leader, Vladimir Putin, later this month. He said he wants to talk about the support Russia seems to give ransomware criminals. The Biden administration has also promised to take action to defend against further attacks. It plans to improve efforts to bring charges against those responsible and form diplomatic agreements with other countries. The hope is that allies can pressure countries that protect ransomware gangs.

Boating on the Black Sea

But the difficulties of stopping ransomware gangs and other cybercriminals have long been clear. There are now more than 100 people on the FBI's quickly-growing list of most-wanted cyber criminals. Many of them are not really hiding. One is Evgeniy Bogachev, who was charged 10 years ago with a series of cyber bank thefts. He lives in a Russian resort town. The FBI says he "is known to enjoy boating" on the Black Sea.

Ransomware gangs can move around, do not need much equipment to operate and can hide their identities. They also share resources. For example, DarkSide, the group responsible for the fuel pipeline attack, lends its ransomware software to partners to carry out attacks for a price.

All options are on the table

The Biden administration has not said if it plans to use offensive cyber measures against ransomware gangs. Press secretary Jen Psaki said last week that "we're not going to take options off the table," but she did not give further details. Her comments followed a ransomware attack by a Russian gang that caused outages at Brazil's JBS, the second-largest producer of beef, pork and chicken in the United States.

General Paul Nakasone leads U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency. He said at a recent meeting that he believes the U.S. will be "bringing the weight of our nation," including the Defense⁷ Department, "to take down this (ransomware) infrastructure⁸ outside the United States."

U.S. policy already permits government specialists to fight against criminals in cyberspace⁹ and break up their operations using computer programs. U.S. Cyber Command also has carried out offensive operations related to election security, including against Russian misinformation efforts during the U.S. midterm elections in 2018.

After the Colonial Pipeline attack, Biden promised that his administration wants to bring foreign cybercriminals to justice. Yet even as he was speaking from the White House in May, a different Russian-linked ransomware group was publishing thousands of secret documents belonging to the Washington D.C. police department. Experts believe it was the worst ransomware attack against a U.S.-based law enforcement agency.

"We are not afraid of anyone," the hackers wrote in a message.

Words in This Story

hacker² –n. a person who secretly gets access to a computer system in order to take information or cause damage

consequences –n.(pl.) the results (often bad) of some action that a person has taken

resort – n. a place where people go for vacations

take (an) option off the table – expression. to eliminate a possible course of action

infrastructure – n. the basic equipment and structures that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly

1 ransom   

n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救

参考例句：

• We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。
• The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。

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 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

7 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

8 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

9 cyberspace   

n.虚拟信息空间，网络空间，计算机化世界

参考例句：

• She travels in cyberspace by sending messages to friends around the world.她利用电子空间给世界各地的朋友们发送信件。
• The teens spend more time in cyberspace than in the real world of friends and family.青少年花费在电脑上的时间比他们和真正的朋友及家人在一起的时间要多。