万花筒 2010-10-03&10-04 可怕的新型网络武器

It begins with a simple USB Key, then with surgical¹ precision, penetrates² some of the world's most advanced computer security. The first cyber weapon, say experts, to threaten to damage targets in the real world. Cyber strategist like  Gadi Evron  say the Stuxnet worm is so formidable and almost certainly has to have state backing. This would require a lot of resources on the level of a nation state. You know, it's taking into account the intelligence required to attack a specific target. It would make it nearly, or to virtually, impossible that this is a alone attacker sitting at home.
The Stuxnet worm infects systems through a  USB Key, then goes on the hunt for specific industrial computers made by the Company Siemens. When it finds one it can lie dormant³, waiting to sabotage⁴ or destroy an industrial process with potentially disastrous⁵ consequences.
We are used to Trojans and viruses on the Internet, but this is the first worm designed to damage the physical world and critical infrastructure⁶ in particular. Things like factories, chemical plants and pipe lines are all potential targets.
This week, Iran claimed computers at its Bushehr nuclear plant were attacked by the Stuxnet worm. It won't reveal how much damage has been done, but there have been numerous mysterious delays in its nuclear program. In the reading offices of cyber security company Symantec, they're monitoring the spread of the worm. When we look at the detections we've monitored, Iran is certainly one of the countries that's way at the top of the ... certainly, you know more detections from Iran than anywhere else, but to be fear we have seen it in other countries as well. It would tend to suggest that the Iran was the target, and there's something in Iran that obviously the creators of this threat were interested in. No one knows who's behind the worm and the exact nature of its mission. Some believe Israel's responsible, using expertise⁷ and military cyber intelligence to thwart⁸ Iran's nuclear ambitions. There's no evidence Israel's created the Stuxnet worm, but there are fears Iran will hold Israel or America responsible and seek retaliation⁹.

1 surgical   

adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的

参考例句：

• He performs the surgical operations at the Red Cross Hospital.他在红十字会医院做外科手术。
• All surgical instruments must be sterilised before use.所有的外科手术器械在使用之前，必须消毒。

2 penetrates   

v.穿过( penetrate的第三人称单数 )；刺入；了解；渗透

参考例句：

• This is a telescope that penetrates to the remote parts of the universe. 这是一架能看到宇宙中遥远地方的望远镜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The dust is so fine that it easily penetrates all the buildings. 尘土极细，能极轻易地钻入一切建筑物。 来自辞典例句

3 dormant   

adj.暂停活动的；休眠的；潜伏的

参考例句：

• Many animals are in a dormant state during winter.在冬天许多动物都处于睡眠状态。
• This dormant volcano suddenly fired up.这座休眠火山突然爆发了。

4 sabotage   

n.怠工，破坏活动，破坏；v.从事破坏活动，妨害，破坏

参考例句：

• They tried to sabotage my birthday party.他们企图破坏我的生日晚会。
• The fire at the factory was caused by sabotage.那家工厂的火灾是有人蓄意破坏引起的。

5 disastrous   

adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的

参考例句：

• The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
• Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨，血本无归。

6 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

7 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

8 thwart   

v.阻挠，妨碍，反对；adj.横(断的)

参考例句：

• We must thwart his malevolent schemes.我们决不能让他的恶毒阴谋得逞。
• I don't think that will thwart our purposes.我认为那不会使我们的目的受到挫折。

9 retaliation   

n.报复，反击

参考例句：

• retaliation against UN workers 对联合国工作人员的报复
• He never said a single word in retaliation. 他从未说过一句反击的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》