Computer Crime

In many businesses, computers have largely replaced paperwork, because they are fast, flexible and do not make mistakes. As one banker said, ‘unlike humans, computers never have a bad day’. And they are honest. Many banks advertise that their transactions are ‘untouched by human hands’ and therefore safe from human temptation. Obviously, computers have no reason to steal money. But they also have no conscience, and the growing number of computer crimes shows that they can be used to steal.

Computer criminals don’t use guns. And even if they are caught, it is hard to punish them because there are no witnesses and often no evidence. A computer cannot remember who used it, it simply does what it is told. The head teller at a New York City bank used a computer to steal more than one and a half million dollars in just four years. No one noticed this theft because he moved money from one account to another. Each time a customer he had robbed asked questions about the balance in his account, the teller claimed a computer error, then replaced the missing money from someone else’s account.

Some employees use the computer’s power to get revenge on employers they consider unfair. Recently, a large insurance company in the USA fired its computer-tape librarian for reasons that involved her personal rather than her professional life. She was given thirty day’s notice. In those thirty days, she erased all the company’s computerized records.

All computer criminals have been minor employees. Now police wonder if this is ‘the tip of the iceberg’. One official said, ‘I have a feeling that there is more crime out there than we are catching. What we are seeing now is all so poorly done. I wonder what the real experts are doing – the ones who really know how a computer works.’

Exercise 40 Retell briefly the text using the following expressions:

I titled the text ... because ...

The text deals with …

The first (second, third, etc) part deals with (tells us about, says that…

I think that this text discusses interesting (topical, urgent) issues because … .

The text reviews the story ...

It covers several interesting points concerning ...

Exercise 41 How will innovative technologies transform railways in the near future? Give your project.

Conversational practice

Exercise 42 Match a line in A with a line in B. Who is talking to whom? Where are the dialogues taking place?

A	B
-Could you fill it up, please? -Could I have the bill, please? -It’s a present. Do you think you could giftwrap it for me? -Two lagers, please. -Can you tell me the code for Paris? -I’ll give you a lift if you like. -Would you mind opening the window? -Could I have extension 2387, please?	-Halves or pints? -Not at all. It’s very stuffy in here. -One moment. I’ll just look it up. -Sure. Shall I check the oil as well? -I’m afraid the line’s engaged at the moment. Do you want to hold? -Certainly, sir. I’ll bring it straight away. -Yes, indeed. I’ll just take the price off. -That’s great. Would you drop me at the station?

Exercise 43 Insert the missing words according to the sense and compose short dialogues with these sentences.

1. May I see your ... , please? 2. The ... is delayed, so we are not sure about the time of arrival, either. 3. I’d like to book a ... ticket for flight NY372. 4. You may buy an air ticket just before the flight, when you arrive at the ... . 5. You’ll need a ... if you are going to the USA. 6. Hand ... is not included into the weight allowance and can be carried into the plane. 7. Cigarettes and spirits are ... to duty.