豆知识 2011-07-03&07-09 计算机病毒与危害

 You've probably been sick before. It's not fun. In many cases, like the flu, you're sick because of a virus. Tiny germs ready to multiply and spread from person to person, via handshakes or sneezes. Computer viruses are no different.  Instead of germs, they are computer programs. These programs are usually designed by criminals to multiply and spread from computer to computer like a disease. If one makes it to your computer, it can erase¹ your files, send emails without your permission, or even communicate sensitive information to criminals. Let's take a closer look, because what we call computer viruses can actually be viruses, worms or trojans.

 

We’ll start with viruses. These bugs² hitch³ a ride when something like a file is shared between computers. This often happens via attachments⁴ sent in email or shared USB drives. Once someone clicks to open the file, the damage is done. The virus is now on that computer, where it starts to multiply and look for chances to hitch a ride to a new computer. Like a sick human, it’s sometimes hard to tell when a file has a virus. For this reason, the best defense⁵ is anti-virus software.  It prevents viruses from getting to your computer and removes them when they are found.

 

Now, worms are a little scarier.  They are programs that spread to computers without humans doing anything. Criminals create worms to spread via computers that are connected in a network. They worm their way from computer to computer automatically⁶ whether it's a small office or a global network like the Internet. Usually, the worms find a back door, a way to trick the computer’s software into letting them in. Once they're in, they look for the same back door in similar computers, wreaking⁷ havoc⁸ along the way. The best defense from worms is keeping your computer software up to date at work and home. This helps close the back doors and prevent problems.

 

 

Trojans, our last example, are sneaky bugs. Like the real trojan horse, they’re a trick. If you fall for it, you end up downloading a virus from the Internet.  It may appear to be a game or useful software, but hidden inside is a program that can cause real problems.

 

 

For example, these programs can open new back doors, giving criminals access to your computer and information over the web. Not fun. To avoid trojans, only download software from sites you trust. Just like washing your hands and covering your cough, you have to be aware of what causes problems to avoid them. Keep your computer up to date and get anti-virus software. It will help prevent problems and help you recover. And please don't click on links, attachments and downloadable files unless you know they're legit. Through a little awareness⁹, you and your computer can stay happy and healthy.

1 erase   

v.擦掉；消除某事物的痕迹

参考例句：

• He tried to erase the idea from his mind.他试图从头脑中抹掉这个想法。
• Please erase my name from the list.请把我的名字从名单上擦去。

2 bugs   

adj.疯狂的，发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 )；病菌；虫子；[计算机]（制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的）错误

参考例句：

• All programs have bugs and need endless refinement. 所有的程序都有漏洞，都需要不断改进。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 hitch   

v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉

参考例句：

• They had an eighty-mile journey and decided to hitch hike.他们要走80英里的路程，最后决定搭便车。
• All the candidates are able to answer the questions without any hitch.所有报考者都能对答如流。

4 attachments   

n.（用电子邮件发送的）附件( attachment的名词复数 )；附着；连接；附属物

参考例句：

• The vacuum cleaner has four different attachments. 吸尘器有四个不同的附件。
• It's an electric drill with a range of different attachments. 这是一个带有各种配件的电钻。

5 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。

6 automatically   

adv.不加思索地，无意识地，自动地

参考例句：

• The machine cycles automatically.这台机器自动循环运转。
• She had automatically labelled the boys as troublemakers.她不假思索地认定这些男孩子是捣蛋鬼。

7 wreaking   

诉诸（武力），施行（暴力），发（脾气）( wreak的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Coal mining is a messy business, often wreaking terrible environmental damage nearby. 采矿是肮脏的行业，往往会严重破坏周边环境。
• The floods are wreaking havoc in low-lying areas. 洪水正在地势低洼地区肆虐。

8 havoc   

n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱

参考例句：

• The earthquake wreaked havoc on the city.地震对这个城市造成了大破坏。
• This concentration of airborne firepower wrought havoc with the enemy forces.这次机载火力的集中攻击给敌军造成很大破坏。

9 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。