TEST 4 87

Reading (4)
Reading Passage 10
Hacked off

Internet security, or rather the lack of it, is the bane of today’s computer user.
Computer hackers write malicious computer programs (or malware) that infect
vulnerable computers and modify the way they operate. Typically, these programs
are downloaded from the internet inadvertently with a single click of the mouse. The
consequences are detrimental to the user, ranging from a minor nuisance – for
example, slowing the computer’s speed – to a major financial loss for an individual
or company, when login and password details are accessed and fraud ensues.
Examples of malware include viruses, worms, trojans (Trojan horses), spyware,
keystroke logging, scareware and dishonest adware.
A virus can be released when a user opens an e-mail and downloads an attach­
ment. The text portion of the e-mail cannot carry any malware but the attachment may
contain a virus, for example in a macro (a short program) embedded in a worksheet
document, such as Excel. Viruses can replicate and if they spread to the host com­
puter’s boot sector files they can leave the user with a ‘blue-screen of death’. In this
circumstance, the blue-screen is accompanied by a message that starts ‘A problem
has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your
computer’. Whilst malware cannot physically damage the computer’s hard drive the
information on the boot sector has been destroyed and the computer is unable to
function. In a worst case scenario the hard disk has to be wiped clean by reformatt­
ing, before the operating system can be reinstalled, in which case every program and
file will be lost.
Unlike a virus, a worm can infect a computer without the user downloading an
attachment, so it can spread through a network of computers at tremendous
speed. The ability of worms to replicate in this way means that they can infect every
contact in the user’s e-mail address book and potentially every e-mail contact in each
recipient’s computer. Instant messaging programs and social networking sites are
similarly at risk. A main feature of a worm is that it slows the computer down by
consuming memory or hard disk space so that the computer eventually locks up.
The word trojan derives from the Trojan Horse of Greek mythology that tricked the
Trojans into allowing Greek soldiers into the city of Troy, hidden inside a wooden
horse. Today a trojan is a metaphor for malware that masquerades as useful software.
88 How to Master the IELTS

Trojans are unable to replicate but they interfere with the computer surreptitiously,
allowing viruses and worms unfettered access to the system.
Spyware programs monitor a computer user’s internet surfing habits covertly.
Some spyware simply monitors how many visits consumers make to particular web
pages and what they are buying or spending, usually for marketing purposes.
Keystroke logging is the main fraudulent activity linked to spyware. Here, private and
confidential information is obtained from the user’s keystrokes, enabling criminals to
acquire credit card details, or login names and passwords for online bank accounts.
Some keystroke loggers operate legitimately to monitor the internet use of employees
in the office or to keep tabs on children’s surfing activities at home.
Scareware is a form of extortion where a victim is informed that the computer is
infected with a virus and, for a fee, is offered a solution to fix the problem. The user is
tricked into clicking an ‘OK’ button and buys software unnecessarily because there
is usually no virus. In one scam, a scareware pop-up informs the victim that the
computer’s registry contains critical errors when the problems are actually minor or
even non-existent. Persuaded by the pop-up advert, the victim buys the ‘registry
cleaner’, which may not work or could even damage the computer’s registry. There
are of course legitimate registry cleaners that will boost your computer’s speed.
A genuine registry cleaner will normally be endorsed by a reputable company or
recommended in a PC magazine.
Adware pop-up adverts are similar to scareware but are merely a nuisance rather
than malware (unless dishonest), though they can still download programs that
track your shopping habits and slow your computer down. The adverts pop up auto­
matically when the user opens the internet browser and can become irritating
because they conceal information on the opened up page. One answer is to turn
on the Internet Explorer’s pop-up blocker under the privacy tab because this will
block most automatic pop-ups. More effectively, a user can purchase an all-in-one
security suite to block any malware. Security software automatically blocks and
deletes any malicious programs for a more secure web experience. Normally, the
software will update itself every day as long as the computer is switched on.
 TEST 4 89

Questions 281 to 287

Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage
10?

Write:

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.

281 Malware is usually downloaded from the internet by mistake.

282 An e-mail text can carry a virus.

283 A virus can result in the loss of every program and file.

284 Java applets can contain malicious code.

285 A Trojan disguises itself as useful software.

286 Keystroke logging is always fraudulent.

287 Scareware is not harmful to the user.

Questions 288 to 292

Classify the following as typical of

A a virus
B a worm
C a virus and a worm.

288 requires user input to infect a computer.

289 can duplicate itself.

290 reduces the computer’s speed.

291 do not damage the hard drive.

292 can be removed by security software.