Internet experts warn that the Worldwide Web has become a haven for organized crime and they say the threat of online terrorism is real. At a recent e-crime congress in London, a NATO official said online espionage and Internet-based terrorism represent some of the gravest threats to global security.
互联网专家警告说，世界电脑网路已经成为犯罪组织的庇护所。他们说，网路恐怖主义的威胁也确实存在。一名北约官员在3月5日至6日在伦敦举行的电子犯罪讨论会中说，网上间谍活动和以互联网为基地的恐怖主义，严重威胁到世界安全。
While people work hard on their computers - so too do the Internet viruses or malicious software known as malware. Cyber experts say hundreds of thousands of them bombard personal computers every day. Far from being a mere nuisance, these bugs threaten modern life.
在人们努力研发电脑科技的同时，互联网病毒、又称恶意软件，也在不断发展。电脑专家说，成千上万的病毒每天袭击个人电脑，不仅带来麻烦，而且威胁到现代人的生活。
British opposition lawmaker David Davis warned an e-crime conference in London that the danger of cyber terrorism is real.
英国反对党议员戴维斯在电脑犯罪讨论会中警告说，电脑恐怖主义的危险确实存在：
"In America, hackers have already broken into the Pentagon's computer systems; in India, into government ministers' files; in Germany, into the chancellor's," Davis said. "Such attacks could be designed to compromise safety systems, critical national infrastructure, to overwhelm communication systems, or even to cause a run on the bank."
“电脑骇客侵入了美国国防部的电脑系统；在印度侵入了内阁部长的电脑档案；在德国侵入了总理的档案。他们的目的可能是要破坏安全系统和重要的国家基础设施，颠覆通讯系统，甚至造成银行的挤兑风波。”
Last April, Estonia fell victim to cyber-terrorism. A barrage of spam and hacking paralyzed the former Soviet republic's banks and government.
去年4月，爱沙尼亚成为电脑恐怖主义的受害者。这个前苏联共和国的银行和政府电脑系统因为大量的垃圾邮件和密集的入侵而陷入瘫痪。
James Finch is assistant director of the FBI's Cyber Division. He says governments are in a constant battle with cyber criminals.
美国联邦调查局电脑部门的官员詹姆斯.芬奇说，各国政府要不断和电脑犯罪分子作斗争：
"Unfortunately bad guys and their talents are maturing on the Internet, so it is a constant battle or challenge to stay ahead of the Internet criminal," Finch said.
“不幸的是，歹徒及其在互联网方面的才智越发成熟。要赶在他们之前克敌制胜是一场持续的战斗或挑战。”
NATO warns that the online terror threat will continue to grow as groups become increasingly aware of its potential. The military alliance says it considers internet terrorism to be a greater threat than a missile strike.
北约警告说，由于恐怖组织愈来愈了解网路恐怖主义的潜在力量，网路上的恐怖威胁将继续增大。这个军事联盟说，互联网恐怖主义的威胁，比导弹攻击还要严重。
Cyber security expert Mikko Hyppönen says malware are making the Internet a more dangerous place.
电脑安全专家米科.海普说，恶意软件使互联网处在更为危险的境地：
"I think we have never seen as bad a situation as we are seeing right now," Hyppönen said. "We are getting more samples than ever before in the history of malware and many people are surprised by that because people see less outbreaks, but there are still more viruses being created. And the reason behind this is the virus writers have changed from the old hobby virus writers who did it for fun, to the professionals who do it to make money."
“我们现在的恶劣处境是前所未有的。我们所得到的恶意软件的样本也是历来最多的。许多人都感到惊异，因为他们并没有看到有病毒多次爆发。事实上有人在制造更多的病毒。这个现象的背后有一个原因，那就是从前制造电脑病毒的人往往是为了兴趣，而现在的是专业人员，他们制造病毒是为了盈利。”
Ghost malware and other bugs are hidden deep within infected computers, allowing criminal gangs to silently gather personal information. The FBI's James Finch says there is a well-organized, Internet mafia.
恶意软件和其它病毒隐藏在电脑里，使犯罪份子可以悄悄地收集个人资料。联邦调查局的芬奇说，现在有一个组织严密的互联网黑手党：
"If there is a crime that is profitable on the Internet, it is safe to say that an organized group of people is probably carrying it out," Finch said. "We are looking at very structured organized groups, individuals who have never physically met, but are collaborating on the Internet globally.
“如果互联网上出现以谋利为目的的犯罪行为，那么我们可以肯定地说，那大概就是一个有组织的犯罪团体干的。这些团伙组织严密，其成员之间并不亲自接触，却在全球互联网上合作。”
Internet experts say they do not want people to pull the plug on their life online, but rather they caution them to stay vigilant, keep anti-virus software up-to-date and know the enemy.
互联网专家说，他们并不是要人们停止使用电脑网络，而是要大家提高警觉，不断更新反病毒软件。 |