Английский для студентов, изучающих информационную безопасность. Учебное пособие

UNIT 3

Computer crime

Hacking is not a crime. It's a skill.

Johnny Long

Before you read discuss the following questions.

1.Do you agree with the statement that it is impossible to imagine the modern society without computers? Prove your point of view.

2.Give examples of computer applications.

3.How many hours a day do you spend using the computer? What do you use it for?

4.Name examples of a computer crime that you know of.

Vocabulary hacking ['hækɪŋ] – хакерство

expertise [ˌekspɜː'tiːz, -spə-] – знание дела; квалификация, компетентность, компетенция

unauthorized [ʌn'ɔːθ(ə)raɪzd] – запрещённый, несанкционированный access ['ækses] – доступ

data ['deɪtə] – данные, сведения, информация

industrial espionage [ɪn'dʌstrɪəl 'espɪənɑːʒ] – производственный шпионаж

criminal ['krɪmɪn(ə)l] – преступный, преступник log on – входить (в систему)

fraudulent ['frɔːdjələnt, -ʤə, -dju-, -ʤu-] – обманный; жульниче-

ский, мошеннически

fraud [frɔːd] – обман; мошенничество, жульничество; подделка swindle ['swɪndl] – обманывать, надувать

security [sɪ'kjuərətɪ] – безопасность safeguards ['seɪfgɑːdz] – меры безопасности fraudster ['frɔːdstə] – жулик, мошенник crooked ['krukɪd] – добытый нечестным путем

computer virus ['vaɪ(ə)rəs] – компьютерный вирус bug [bʌg] – ошибка, вирус

delete [dɪ'liːt] – удалять, стирать corrupt [kə'rʌpt] – испорченный, портить

21

1. Read the text and underline the main idea.

Computers have become so necessary to modern living that it is difficult to believe that they are a relatively recent invention. Undoubtedly, they have proved to be of great value, but they also have their disadvantages. For one thing, they have added to our already large number of crimes.

Hacking was the first computer crime that most of us became aware of. By using their computer expertise, people known as hackers can gain unauthorized access to someone else’s computer and make use of the data which they find there. They may, for example, get hold of lists of the names of their competitors’ clients and use these to build up their own businesses, or they may use hacking as a form of industrial espionage to find out a rival company’s plans. Other hacking activities may be more obviously criminal, in that hackers may log on to financial data in someone else’s computer and either alter it illegally or use it for fraudulent purposes.

The possibility of serious financial fraud has been greatly increased by the modern practice of purchasing goods through the Internet. Apparently, the use of the credit cards to pay for such purchases has led to record levels of fraud with a great many people being swindled out of great deal of money. Banks are working hard to improve online security and to provide safeguards for customers, but fraudsters are working just as hard to improve their crooked techniques.

Many computer users worry in case their systems are affected by computer viruses. The people who introduce such bugs into other people’s computer programs may not intentionally be committing a crime, but may be doing so as an act of mischief or spite. The motive does not really matter to the people whose data has been deleted or altered or whose files have been corrupted.

Computers are part of highly technical method of working, in which there are constantly new developments. Unfortunately, there is also a constant stream of new developments in the fraud industry associated with them. All computers must be on their guard.

22

I. ELICITING THE VOCABULARY

1.Match the words and expressions below with their definitions:

II. GRAMMAR IN CONTEXT

1.Makethesentencescompleteusing PastSimpleorPastContinuous.

1.While I (to code), my colleague (to interrupt) me and asked me a question. I (to answer) his question and continued coding.

23

2.Yesterday, my friend (to install) a new software on my computer. While he (to install) the software, I (to read) the manual to understand its features.

3.Last week, we (to have) a meeting with the client to discuss their requirements. During the meeting, our team (to present) the prototype of the software.

4.When I (to check) the code, I (to realize) that there was an error in it. While I (to debug) the code, my colleague (to suggest) a solution to fix the error.

5.I (to work) on a project when my computer (to crash). After restarting mycomputer,I(to restore) thebackup and (to continue) workingon theproject.

2. Make the questions complete using Past Simple or Past Continuous and answer them.

1.Which/programming language/you/use/for the previous project?

2.You/work/on fixing the bug/when/the program/crash/yesterday?

3.How/you/address/theerrors/inthedatabase/while/work/onothertasks?

4.You/find and fix/all the bugs/in the software program/last week?

5.How many errors/you/identify/in the database/during the last audit?

6.What updates/you/implement/when/the software/crash/last month?

7.You/actively/recruit/more cybersecurity professionals/due to the high demand/last quarter?

8.What programming languages/you/use/during the development phase of the project?

3. Put questions to the words in italic. Which of the questions you’ve got are the questions to the subject.

1.My aunt received a fraudulent email asking for her personal informa-

tion.

2.End-to-end encryption is a way of securing your messages from being read by anyone except the intended recipient.

3.By using a strong password, you can avoid the risk of identity theft and cyber attacks.

4.My mom prefers to call me instead of using messaging apps to communicate.

5.One can attach files like pictures and documents to emails using email services.

24

III. COMPREHENSION

1.Chose the most suitable answer from the three possible answers provided and translate the sentences:

1.The first computer crime that most of us became aware of was

a.industrial espionage

b.hacking

c.financial fraud

2.People who gain unauthorized access to someone else’s computer are called

a.hackers.

b.experts.

c.spies.

3.The increase of fraud through the computer is partly due to

a.crooked techniques.

b.modern practices.

c.internet purchases.

4.Computer files can be damaged by mischief makers using

a.corrupted files.

b.computer programs.

c.computer viruses.

5.According to the text, all computer users must

a.be up-to-date.

b.be careful.

c.be informed.

2. Find English equivalents for the following expressions in the text:

Современный образ жизни, относительно недавнее изобретение, онлайновая безопасность, иметь большую ценность, несанкционированный доступ, клиенты конкурента, создать свой собственный бизнес, производственный шпионаж, мошеннические цели, финансовое мошенничество.

3. Match the words in Column A with their meanings in Column B.

25

5. Say whether the following sentences are true or false:

1.Computers have proved to be useless.

2.Hacking was the first computer crime that most of usbecame awareof.

3.Hackers can get unauthorized access to someone else’s computer and make use of the data they find there.

4.Hacking activities are not considered to be criminal.

5.The possibility of serious financial fraud has been greatly decreased by the modern practice of purchasing goods through the Internet.

6.Banks do nothing to improve online security and to provide safeguards for customers.

7.Many computer users worry in case their systems are affected by computer viruses.

6. Answer the following questions in full sentences.

1.What are the advantages and the disadvantage of computers?

2.Name one kind of data that computer hackers can get?

3.What do banks do to improve online security?

4.If you have a computer, what precaution can you take against computer hackers?

5.What advice would you give someone who is making an online purchase with his credit card?

6.Have you ever dealt with hacking?

26

7. Read the text filling the gaps with the words from the box: COMPUTER VIRUSES

A (1) … is an unwanted program that has entered your system without your knowing about it. One of the features of a computer virus that separates it from another kind of (2) … is that it replicates itself, so that it can spread (through flop networks) to other (3) ….

Using mathematical and epidemiological models of virus (4) …, scientists concluded that the number of PCs infected is doubling every two months.

While all magazine publishing houses and the might of the world’s software companies are putting huge resources behind (5) … and prevention, it appears that viruses are here to stay.

So to keep (6) … to a minimum it’s a good idea to: regularly backup your (7) …; make sure you always start your computer from the hard disk or write protected (8) … of your operation system; ensure that the programs downloaded from (9) … are saved onto flash cards so you can check them for viruses before running time; use virus detection software on any software you receive.

8. Answer the questions to the text:

1.What is a computer virus?

2.What is the difference of a computer virus from another program?

3.What did scientists say about infected PCs?

4.Can world’s software companies prevent the appearance of computer viruses?

5.What are the rules you should observe to keep your computer free from viruses?

IV. WRITING

Comment on the following:

Punishment for computer crimes should be more severe than traditional crimes.

27

UNIT 4

Ransomware: How it Works

Ransomware is a criminal business model that can be very profitable and relatively low risk.

John McAfee

Before you readanswer these questions:

1.What is ransomware and how does it work?

2.How can you tell if your computer has been infected with ransom-

ware?

3.Who are the typical targets of ransomware attacks?

Vocabulary

extortion [ɪk'stɔːʃ(ə)n, ek-] – вымогание, вымогательство ransomware ['ræn(t)s(ə)m weə] – программа-вымогатель malware ['mælweə] – вредоносное ПО

threat [θret] – опасность, угроза encrypt [ɛnˈkrɪpt] – кодировать release [rɪ'liːs] – избавлять, освобождать

warning ['wɔːnɪŋ] – предупреждение; предостережение victim ['vɪktɪm] – жертва

hijack ['haɪʤæk] – нападать с целью грабежа

prevalent ['prev(ə)lənt] – распространённый, общепринятый disorder [dɪ'sɔːdə] – беспорядок, нарушение

The first instance of an extortion attack is credited to Joseph Popp back in 1989. Since then the frequency, delivery and scale of ransomware attacks has increased significantly; so what is ransomware and how does it work?

Ransomware is a particularly nasty form of malware and digital threat. There is usually some kind of ransomware headlining in the news around the world and those who are the victims are often at a loss as to what to do next.

Essentially, ransomware will infect an individual computer and one of two things can happen: first, it locks the computer, stopping all access to it from the keyboard, then it starts to search for data and encrypt the contents of the hard drive. Lastly it infects the boot sector of the computer and displays a message detailing the type of ransomware and how the individual

28

will pay for the release of the data; the message can even have fake FBI warnings included with it. Alternatively, and the second thing that may happen once a system is infected, the ransomware will lay in wait until a set time and date, then do all of the above and lock the computer. Waiting for a set time will ensure that numerous machines are infected before any fix can be discovered; also if all the infected machines are activated at the same time then there's more of a chance of the attacker getting their ransom paid.

You normallyhaveasettime in which to pay theransom, usually72-hours. If the victim doesn't pay in time, the attacker can introduce a second phase into the ransomware code that will either increase the amount demanded or completely destroy the files that are being held at ransom.

Ransomware can be spread in a number of ways. The more popular choice of delivery is via an infected web page, some form of Flash script that has been hijacked and now contains a link to a remote server where the browser will unwittingly download the ransomware code. More recently there are instances of Drive-by attacks, where the ransomware code locates any USB sticks a user may have in their system and transfer itself in the knowledge that the stick will be inserted into a work's computer.

The WannaCry ransomware attack earlier in the year was by far one of the most prevalent in recent years. It's estimated that more than 250,000 computers across 200 countries were infected, rendering the likes of big companies such as FedEx, Nissan Motor Co and Telefonica SA under siege from its demands. The National Health Service in the UK was hit too, resulting in weeks of chaos and disorder for the staff and patients alike.

I. ELICITING THE VOCABULARY

1. Here are some words from the text. Separate them into nouns, verbs and adjectives and fill in the table.

Infected, significantly, disorder, download, ransom, nasty, popular, transfer, numerous, destroy, remote, server, victim, attack, access, data, particularly,unwillingly,usually.

29

2. Match the words in bold in the text with their meanings:

1.a person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime ________

2.a state of being untidy, badly prepared, or badly organized _______

3.illegally seize (an aircraft, ship, or vehicle) while in transit and force it to go to a different destination or use it for one's own purposes_________

4.widespread in a particular area or at a particular time __________

5.malicious software, such as a virus, which is specifically designed to disrupt or damage a computer system _________

6.a type of malware from cryptovirology that threatens to publish the victim's personal data or perpetually block access to it unless a ransom is paid _________

7.the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats _____.

8.the possibility of trouble, danger, or ruin ________

9.something which is said or written to tell people of a possible danger, problem, or other unpleasant thing that might happen _________

10.convert (information or data) into a code, especially to prevent unauthorized access ________

11. allow or enable to escape from confinement; set free ________

3. Match the synonyms.

4. Find the English equivalents for the following words and word combinations in the text:

Вымогательство, неприятная форма, цифровая угроза, освещаемая в новостях, часто бывают в недоумении, содержимое жесткого диска, загрузочный сектор компьютера, заплатить выкуп, уничтожить файлы, через зараженную веб-страницу, удаленный сервер, нечаянно загрузить код вымогателя.

30