VOA标准英语2012--Flame Virus Looms in Debate Over Regulation of Internet

 

Flame Virus Looms¹ in Debate Over Regulation of Internet

 

A Russian-based computer security firm, Kaspersky Lab, found that the Flame virus could record keystrokes, capture screenshots, and record conversations using microphones built into computers.

The greater part of the infected computers were in Iran.

"We think that this is one of the rare examples of (a) cyber weapon, and it actually illustrates² the fact that there are some cyber warfare³ operations going on there secretly," said Vitaly Kamluk, Kaspersky's chief malware expert.

Flame is much larger than the 2010 Stuxnet virus, which is believed to have shut down uranium enrichment facilities in Iran. As with that virus, suspicions now point to Israel and the U.S. But no one has claimed responsibility, and the Iranian government said this week it has produced an antivirus program that stops Flame.

James Lewis, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the new virus was a collection of existing cyberespionage tools.

"What Flame was was somebody took a lot of existing techniques, and glued them all together, which are kind of fun. But none of this is what you call cutting edge stuff," said Lewis.

Kaspersky's investigation⁴ was commissioned by the International Telecommunications Union. Russia wants the U.N. agency to extend its regulatory authority to the Internet.

And Lewis suspects the Moscow-based company is helping⁵ in that effort.

"Kaspersky entered into an agreement with the ITU, first to do some sort of global cybersecurity project, and second the ITU asked Kaspersky to look for malware in the Middle East, and that's how they found Flame. Boy, that's a strange set of coincidences when you line them up," he said.

The ITU's 193 members will meet later this year in Dubai. And viruses like Flame will surely be part of the debate over how the Internet should be governed. 

 

1 looms   

n.织布机( loom的名词复数 )v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的第三人称单数 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• All were busily engaged,men at their ploughs,women at their looms. 大家都很忙，男的耕田，女的织布。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The factory has twenty-five looms. 那家工厂有25台织布机。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 illustrates   

给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明

参考例句：

• This historical novel illustrates the breaking up of feudal society in microcosm. 这部历史小说是走向崩溃的封建社会的缩影。
• Alfred Adler, a famous doctor, had an experience which illustrates this. 阿尔弗莱德 - 阿德勒是一位著名的医生，他有过可以说明这点的经历。 来自中级百科部分

3 warfare   

n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突

参考例句：

• He addressed the audience on the subject of atomic warfare.他向听众演讲有关原子战争的问题。
• Their struggle consists mainly in peasant guerrilla warfare.他们的斗争主要是农民游击战。

4 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。