2007年VOA标准英语-Investigators Probe What May Be US Largest Thef

By Mil Arcega
Washington, D.C.
10 April 2007
 
Watch Data Theft report

TJX, the parent company of a discount retail¹ chain that includes TJ Maxx and Marshalls stores says it learned of a security breach² involving the theft of 45 million credit and debit³ card numbers last December.  But documents filed by Florida investigators⁴ claim the company was aware that its computer system had been compromised nearly nine months earlier.  Security experts say the timing⁵ is important because an earlier warning would have given customers more time to protect themselves in what is now believed to be the largest theft of consumer data in U.S. history.  VOA's Mil Arcega reports.

 
Fraudulent documents
The TJX Companies, which owns about 2,500 stores in the United States, says most of the stolen information was of no use to thieves.  TJX says when the thefts were discovered – nearly three-quarters of the data had expired and some of the card numbers had been electronically masked. 

But that was little comfort for some customers of the discount chain.  "I don't feel secure shopping at T.J.Maxx with credit any more.  Cash only, " says one shopper.  Another says "It's not worth it.  You save a little but the risk is way too high."

Officials say hackers⁶ broke into the company's computers at two sites:  The TJX headquarters in Framingham, Massachusetts, and an office in Watford, England.  For two years, the hackers downloaded personal information from millions of credit and debit cardholders.  Former prosecutor⁷ Mark Rasch blames TJX.

 
Former prosecutor Mark Rasch
"The bad guys got in and owned them,” he says.  “They had their encrypted data, they had their credit card data.  And it is hard to believe they could have done that if somebody hadn't messed up at TJX."

The thefts came to light after the arrest of several people at a Florida Walmart.  Investigators don't believe the group committed the thefts, but they say that they may have used stolen card numbers to buy $1 million worth of gift certificates.

Mike Vitas is the former head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation⁸'s Cyber Unit.  He says the crooks⁹ are getting better. 

"And the good guys are not doing a good enough job to bolster¹⁰ their defenses quickly enough to deal with the increasing attacks that they're seeing," he says.

The investigation is now looking at when the company knew about the security breach.  Recent documents filed by Florida police suggest the company was aware that unauthorized software had been placed in its systems as early as March 2006.  TJX officials say that information is incorrect.

1 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

2 breach   

n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破

参考例句：

• We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
• He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。

3 debit   

n.借方，借项，记人借方的款项

参考例句：

• To whom shall I debit this sum?此款应记入谁的账户的借方？
• We undercharge Mr.Smith and have to send him a debit note for the extra amount.我们少收了史密斯先生的钱，只得给他寄去一张借条所要欠款。

4 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

6 hackers   

n.计算机迷( hacker的名词复数 )；私自存取或篡改电脑资料者，电脑“黑客”

参考例句：

• They think of viruses that infect an organization from the outside.They envision hackers breaking into their information vaults. 他们考虑来自外部的感染公司的病毒，他们设想黑客侵入到信息宝库中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Arranging a meeting with the hackers took weeks againoff-again email exchanges. 通过几星期电子邮件往来安排见面，他们最终同意了。 来自互联网

7 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

8 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。

9 crooks   

n.骗子( crook的名词复数 )；罪犯；弯曲部分；（牧羊人或主教用的）弯拐杖v.弯成钩形( crook的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The police are getting after the crooks in the city. 警察在城里追捕小偷。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cops got the crooks. 警察捉到了那些罪犯。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。