(THEME)
VOICE ONE:
This is Mary Tillotson.
VOICE TWO:
And this is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English programEXPLORATIONS. Computer viruses are harmful computer programs thatcan destroy information on a computer or cause the computer to stop.Today we tell about a recent virus attack and how you can protectyour computer from such attacks.
(THEME)
VOICE ONE:
The Internet communications system permits millions of computerusers around the world to link together for business and enjoyment.Private citizens, businesses and governments use the Internet.Anyone using the Internet can find information about many differentsubjects in many different languages in only a few minutes.
The Internet is the fastest, most modern and best communicationstool ever invented. However, the Internet also makes it possible forone person to damage or slow thousands of computers that are linkedto it. They can do this by writing computer instructions that causedamage. Or they make the computer fill itself with so much uselessinformation that it stops working.
VOICE TWO:
On January twenty-fourth, a kind of computer virus called a”worm” was released to infect the Internet. A worm is a computerinstruction that makes copies of itself and sends copies to othercomputers.
This worm sent copies of itself to computers across the Internet.The worm temporarily damaged millions of computers around the world.It slowed large groups of computers called networks.
For example, one large American banking company had to closeabout thirteen-thousand of its money machines. People could nolonger get their money from the bank’s machines using their plasticcards.
A major international airline could not sell tickets using theInternet because the worm made its computers fail. Emergency serviceworkers in the western American City of Seattle, Washington couldnot answer emergency calls because the worm caused their computersto fail.
VOICE ONE:
Computer experts named the worm “W-Thirty-Two-Slammer.” They saidthe worm caused a problem for the Internet that was similar to whenthere are too many cars on a road in a large city. This kind ofvehicle problem is called a traffic jam. The Slammer worm caused aninformation jam.
The experts believe the worm was first released in Asia. AnAmerican computer expert said evidence seemed to show the virusfirst appeared in Hong Kong. A government computer team in Hong Kongis working to find who released the new virus.
South Korea may have been the worst affected nation in theJanuary twenty-fourth attack. On January twenty-seventh, a spokesmanfor South Korea’s Information and Communication Ministry saidcomputer communications on the Internet were almost back to normal.The ministry also said experts were working to find where thecomputer virus came from.
Computer experts in China and Taiwan also reported problems withthe worm. Computers in Japan suffered some problems. But they weremostly limited to some schools and companies.
By the morning of January twenty-eighth, computer experts aroundthe world had stopped the worm or made their computer systems safeagainst the Slammer. Experts believe the worm cost computer networksmany millions of dollars in delays, lost business, and the loss ofwork usually done on a computer.
VOICE TWO:
The person who wrote the instructions that created the Slammerworm attacked computers that use the Microsoft computer system.Microsoft quickly provided the necessary computer instructions tomake its system safe and prevent the Slammer worm from attackingother computers.
The kind of program that made the Microsoft system safe is calleda “patch” or “update.” Microsoft says it wants to improve the speedof future updates or patches for computer users linked to theInternet.
Computer experts say the Internet has become extremely importantevery day in every area of the world. They say businesses, localgovernments and private citizens everywhere are using the Internetas an important part of their business or daily life. The expertssay some businesses could no longer exist without the Internet.However, many businesses, local governments and private citizenshave failed to learn how to protect their computers from viruses orworm attacks.
(MUSIC BRIDGE)
VOICE ONE:
Sophos P-L-C is a computer company in Britain that makes programsthat protect computers against viruses and worms. It is the fourthlargest anti-virus company.
Recently, Sophos company officials warned computer users againstmany new viruses and worms. The officials said recent evidence showsthat some people are working hard to make illegal computer programs.The Sophos company said this in a newspaper report printed inSingapore on January fourteenth, only ten days before the Slammerworm attack.
VOICE TWO:
Graham Cluley is a computer expert with the Sophos company. Hesays computer security companies expect more viruses and worms thisyear. He says virus writers want to create the next super virus orworm. These can be easily spread by electronic mail or from acomputer communications method called Instant Messaging. MisterCluley said this kind of virus or worm causes the greatest problems.
The Sophos Company experts say about eighty-thousand computerviruses are now known to exist. The experts say about six-hundrednew computer viruses are released into the Internet each month.
Mister Cluley says nine of last year’s ten most damaging viruseswere spread by electronic mail to computers that use MicrosoftWindows as their operating system.
A company called F-Secure also makes computer security programs.Its experts say new kinds of computer attacks will be aimed atdamaging millions of computers very quickly. This kind of attack iscalled a “flash worm.” It would be able to infect millions ofcomputers in less than fifteen minutes. An F-Secure company computerexpert says it is just a matter of time before someone tries toinfect the Internet with such a program.
(MUSIC)
VOICE ONE:
Computer experts say many private citizens, businesses and localgovernments are not concerned about computer security until theysuffer a damaging attack. Such an attack can cost computer users agreat deal of money in lost business, lost information or damagedcomputer equipment. They say the attack can be more costly thanproviding good communications security.
The experts say that using a computer anti-virus program is thefirst step in protecting a business or private computer. Ananti-virus program searches the computer for, and guards against,viruses. It also inspects incoming e-mail and new programs forviruses.
The experts say that many good computer companies produceanti-virus protection programs. Most companies that offer anti-virusprograms also provide new information called “updates” to protectagainst new viruses or worms as they appear.
VOICE TWO:
An American company called McAfee Security produces a popularanti-virus protection program. Company officials say a goodanti-virus program is only the first step in computer security. Thecompany lists a number of things computer users can also do to helpprotect their computers.
For example, do not open any file attached to electronic mail ifit comes from an unknown person or place. Delete electronic mailfrom unknown people. Make copies of all important documents and keepthem in a safe place. This should be done often to protect valuableinformation.
VOICE ONE:
Computer experts agree that everyone should refuse computerinformation from strangers. They also agree that users must beextremely careful when copying any kind of information from theInternet to their computer’s memory. All experts agree that doingthese things is better than suffering a virus or worm attack.
The Internet is fun, educational and a great business tool. Butbecause of computer virus attacks, safety is extremely important.
(THEME)
VOICE TWO:
This program was written and produced by Paul Thompson. I’m SteveEmber.
VOICE ONE:
And I’m Mary Tillotson. Join us again next week for EXPLORATIONS,a program in Special English on the Voice of America.