2006年NPR美国国家公共电台二月-Two Viruses Target the Macintosh

On Mondays our business report focuses on technology, today our first for Mac. Something rare has happened to the Mac OS X operating system. It's been attacked by a virus. As NPR's Adam Davidson reports.

Last week was about as exciting as it gets at the offices of Sophos - a leading British anti-virus company. Someone spotted¹ a virus for the Mac. Graham Cluley is a Sophos spokesman.

Graham Cluley: "The analysts² start fighting between themselves as to which one of them is gonna be lucky enough to analyze³ it because it's something new for them to get their teeth into it. "

There are about 60 new viruses everyday, but pretty much all are for Microsoft's Windows operating system. There hasn't been a virus for the Apple Macintosh for years. In fact, Sophos doesn't even employ full-time⁴ Mac specialists, Cluley says.

Graham Cluley: "we don't have people who only handle Mac viruses, only that be "sitting around, twiddling their thumbs". A little more than 2 percent of all computer users have Macs, so Cluley says virus writers focus on the vastly more popular Windows system. This new Mac virus isn't dangerous, users have to activate⁵ it by opening a file that promises images of Mac's next operating system. Then it sends itself to any buddies⁶ listed in Mac's iChat software, it doesn't damage the computer or steal data, at worst it clogs⁷ thing up a bit. The second Mac virus, one that attacks Mac's bluetooth wireless⁸ technology, is even less risky⁹. Most Windows viruses, on the other hand, are designed specifically to steal valuable information like credit card or bank account numbers. The writers of the new Mac viruses are not seeking fortune but rather fame, Cluley says.

Graham Cluley: "These are people who are showing off. They are basically saying Na-na-na-na-na, you know, you guys are Macintosh, you can have a virus as well as the Windows guys. They saw it an intellectual challenge and so they wrote one to prove it could be done. "

Cluley says these 2 new viruses don't scare him, but he wouldn't be at all surprised to see more destructive viruses in the future. Adam Davidson, NPR News.

1 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 analyze   

vt.分析，解析 (=analyse)

参考例句：

• We should analyze the cause and effect of this event.我们应该分析这场事变的因果。
• The teacher tried to analyze the cause of our failure.老师设法分析我们失败的原因。

4 full-time   

adj.满工作日的或工作周的，全时间的

参考例句：

• A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
• I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作，我不知道她是如何对付的。

5 activate   

vt.使活动起来，使开始起作用

参考例句：

• We must activate the youth to study.我们要激励青年去学习。
• These push buttons can activate the elevator.这些按钮能启动电梯。

6 buddies   

n.密友( buddy的名词复数 )；同伴；弟兄；（用于称呼男子，常带怒气）家伙v.（如密友、战友、伙伴、弟兄般）交往( buddy的第三人称单数 )；做朋友；亲近（…）；伴护艾滋病人

参考例句：

• We became great buddies. 我们成了非常好的朋友。 来自辞典例句
• The two of them have become great buddies. 他们俩成了要好的朋友。 来自辞典例句

7 clogs   

木屐； 木底鞋，木屐( clog的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Clogs are part of the Netherlands national costume. 木屐是荷兰民族服装的一部分。
• Clogs are part of the Dutch traditional costume. 木屐是荷兰传统装束的一部分。

8 wireless   

adj.无线的；n.无线电

参考例句：

• There are a lot of wireless links in a radio.收音机里有许多无线电线路。
• Wireless messages tell us that the ship was sinking.无线电报告知我们那艘船正在下沉。

9 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。