US, Indian Officials Meet to Discuss Cyber Security

 

By Anjana Pasricha

U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce Kenneth Juster says improving cyber security will help increase trade and technology ties between the United States and India.

Experts say data protection is a critical issue at a time when New Delhi and Washington are exploring ways to step-up high technology collaboration¹, ranging from civilian² nuclear energy to space.

Cyber security is also important, analysts³ say, as more American companies rely on Indian information technology firms to handle technical and software work. 

Mr. Juster suggested at a seminar in New Delhi recently that India should adhere to a European convention to develop standards for cyber security.

"In an age when entire industries rely on information technology, we are now vulnerable to cyber attacks, while [it can] not, of course, be considered a weapon of mass destruction, it can be thought of as a weapon of mass disruption," he said.

The conference was hosted by American and Indian technology industries, amid growing calls for global security standards to protect information, ranging from military secrets to personal records.

The president of the Information Technology Association of America, Harris Miller⁴, says these protections are vital in an age when work is outsourced to foreign locations.

"Imagine the following headline: 'IT [Information Technology] worker in Manila releases Vice⁵ President Dick Cheney's health records.' When data are being passed around the world, the fear of the possibility of public disclosure of sensitive information is incredibly high," warned Mr. Miller.

India's IT industry says it has developed both technology and practices to ensure cyber security, as it handles more and more work for hundreds of Western companies. But experts say India's current laws governing electronic commerce, copyright protection and patents are not stringent⁶ enough to prevent cyber crime.

Anjana Pasricha, for VOA News, New Delhi.

注释：
undersecretary 副部长
cyber security 网络安全
New Delhi 新德里
collaboration 合作
seminar  研究会
vulnerable 易受攻击的
Information Technology Association of America 美国信息技术协会
vital 至关重要的
Manila 马尼拉
patent 专利权
stringent 严格的

 

1 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

2 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

3 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

4 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

5 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

6 stringent   

adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的

参考例句：

• Financiers are calling for a relaxation of these stringent measures.金融家呼吁对这些严厉的措施予以放宽。
• Some of the conditions in the contract are too stringent.合同中有几项条件太苛刻。