Just days before the cyberattack(网络攻击) known as WannaCry struck computers in at least 150 countries in May, 2017, the telecommunications company NTT issued a report on digital threats. One of its conclusions: “In today’s environment, everyone has an important role to play in cybersecurity.”
The advice was timely. The attack that spread from China to Spain was slowed down by a British man who lives with his parents and who is selftaught in cybersecurity. His quick work in buying a web domain name(域名) connected to the digital worm(蠕虫病毒) ended up being a temporary kill switch. This gave time for companies, governments, and others to protect their systems.
His $10 purchase saved billions. More to the point, his action shows that the users of digital tools connected to the Internet must always be prepared for attacks, even if only to inform experts. The attacks like WannaCry, which often come through email, are responsible for as much as 73 percent of malware(恶意软件).
The NTT report says cybersecurity requires much more than a technological fix. New security software cannot keep up with growing threats. The key solution is for people to be prepared and to work together.
“To successfully work their way around these challenges,” the report states, “organizations are going to be required to rely on their users more than ever.” This includes such steps as keeping software up to date with security patches(补丁), using complex passwords, and watching for potential cyberattacks in email and texts. A similar recommendation was offered last December by the U.S. Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity.
To assist digital users, the commission called for a private body to develop something like a “nutritional label” for technology products. Such a fair, thirdparty assessment would help consumers better use cyber tools and curb wideranging harmful activity in cyberspace.
The NTT report makes one other and necessary point about the role of cyber experts in assisting computer users: “Our end goal is not to create fear, uncertainty, and doubt or to overcomplicate the current state of the threat landscape, but to make cybersecurity interesting and inclusive for anyone facing the challenges of security attacks...”
【解题导语】 本文是一篇说明文。在互联网时代,黑客造成的网络攻击给人们的网络生活带来极大的威胁,每个网民都应该成为网络安全的守护者。
1.What stopped the spread of WannaCry?
A.NTT’s report on cybersecurity.
B.A company’s discovery of a kill switch.
C.A British security researcher’s $10 purchase.
D.Governments’ measures to improve cybersecurity.
C 解析:细节理解题。由第二段中的The attack... was slowed down by a British man... quick work in buying a web domain name(域名) connected to the digital worm(蠕虫病毒) ended up being a temporary kill switch.和第三段的第一句可知,一名自学成才的英国网络安全研究员在无意间发现了WannaCry隐藏开关的域名,他花10美元购买了这一域名,遏制了病毒的进一步大规模扩散。
2.What is most important in preventing threats according to NTT’s report?
A.People’s joint efforts.
B.Internet users’ skills.
C.New security software.
D.Reduced use of emails.
A 解析:推理判断题。由第四段中的The key solution is for people to be prepared and to work together.可知,NTT的报告指出网络安全需要的不仅仅是技术的修复,关键是要让人们准备好应对网络攻击,共同努力。
3.What is the focus of Paragraph 5?
A.Cyber experts’ suggestions.
B.The importance of cybersecurity.
C.The challenges Internet companies face.
D.Ways for digital users to resist cyberattacks.
D 解析:段落大意题。由第五段的描述可知,本段主要讲述了数字用户应对网络攻击可采取的措施:用安全补丁升级软件、使用复杂的密码、警惕电子邮件和文本中潜在的网络攻击。
4.What does the underlined word “curb” in Paragraph 6 mean?
A.Limit. B.Undertake.
C.Control. D.Improve.
A 解析:词义猜测题。由画线词前的help consumers better use cyber tools可知,这样一个公正的第三方评估将帮助消费者更好地利用网络工具,遏制网络空间里大规模的有害活动;由此可推断,curb意为“遏制,限制”。