LESSON 16

SYNOPSIS [1]

Task 1. Read and translate the text:

Задание 1. Прочитайте и переведите текст:

The history of computer viruses has begun recently, but it has already become legendary. Almost everyone knows a few fables about these creatures, but hardy anyone understands what a computer virus is.

A computer virus is an executable code able to reproduce itself. Viruses are an area of pure programming, and, unlike other computer programs, carry intellectual functions on protection from being found and destroyed. They have to fight for survival in complex conditions of conflicting computer systems.

Viruses seem to be the only alive organisms in the computer environment, and yet another their main goal is survival. That is why they may have complex crypting/decrypting engines, which is indeed a sort of a standard for computer viruses nowadays, in order to carry out processes of duplicating, adaptation and disguise.

Viruses are written by lone wolves or programmers groups.

Using special programs called "Virus creators" even beginners in a computer world can build their own viruses. The aim of creation of viruses in such a way is pretty obvious: the author wants to become well-known all over the world and to show his powers. The results of the attempt can be very sad, only real professionals can go famous and stay uncaught. To write something really new and remarkable programmer should have some extra knowledge and skills.

A computer virus group is an informal non-profit organization, uniting programmers-authors of viruses regardless of their qualifications. Everyone can become a member of the club, if he creates viruses, studies them for the reason of creation and spreading. You don't have to know any computer language or write any program code to become a member or a friend of the group. Programming in Assembler is preferred, Pascal, C++ and other high level languages are considered to be humiliating. There are computer virus groups all over the world, few being more successful than others. It may be pretty hard to get in contact with them since they are quite typical representatives of a computer underground world as well as (free) wares groups. Sometimes, however, creating viruses can become a respectable occupation, bringing constant income. After all, no one but the author of the virus can bring valuable information on the way it should be treated and cured.

Developers of antiviral software gain money from selling their remedy to a new widely hyped by the mass media virus. Agitation can grow so strong that all and everyone dashes to buy an antiviral protection against even a most harmless virus. The ordinal behavior of share indexes in stock exchanges while a computer virus epidemic is to fall. Somehow, the shares of high-tech companies producing antiviral software will soar up to the sky.

Task 2. Answer the following questions:

Задание 2. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. What is a computer virus?

2. Can you describe those who create viruses?

3. How can a person protect his PC from viruses?

4. What is this information about a computer virus group?

5. Who has written about viruses?

6. What is the aim of creation of viruses?

7. Why may viruses have complex engines?

8. How many viruses do you know?

9. Where is programming considered to be humiliating?

10. What can become a respectable occupation?

11. What is a harmful program for PC?

Task 3. Match the English words given below with their Russian equivalents:

Задание 3. Соотнесите следующие слова с соответствующим переводом:

• a history of • a computer virus • an executable code • a pure program • computer environment • a standard for computer • programmer group •a special program • a "Virus creator" • an aim of a virus • a computer virus group • a programmer-author of a virus • a computer language • a computer program • a creation of a virus • a program code • a computer underground world • an antiviral protection • a harmless virus • a computer virus epidemic • a version of program • a cracked version of program • a harmful program • a mass media virus

• чистая программа • компьютерная программа • компьютерный язык • создание вируса • создатель вируса • история компьютера • код выполнения • цель вируса • компьютерный вирус • группа компьютерных вирусов • компьютерная среда • стандарты для компьютера • группа программистов • специальная программа • создатели программных вирусов • вредящая программа • вирус средств СМИ • программная версия • вскрытая версия программы • безобидный вирус • компьютерный подпольный мир • компьютерная вирусная эпидемия • антивирусная защита • программный код

Task 4. Find the sentences with the words and word combinations given below in the text:

Задание 4. Найдите в тексте предложения, содержащие нижеследующие слова и выражения:

• an area of pure programming

• to carry out processes of duplicating, adaptation and disguise

• a computer virus group

• a computer underground world

• antiviral software

• a sphere of artificial intellect development

• using cracked versions of programs

Task 5. Complete the following sentences:

Задание 5. Закончите предложения:

1. The history of computer viruses has begun....

2. A computer virus is an....

3. Viruses are written by....

4. The results of the attempt can be …..

5. A computer virus group is ….

6. Everyone can become......

7. Developers of antiviral soft ware gain money from ….

Task 6. Say whether the statements given below are true or false:

Задание 6. Определите истинность или ложность следующих предложений:

1. A computer virus is an executable code.

2. They have to fight for survival in a real life.

3. Viruses are written by writers.

4. To write something really new and remarkable programmer shouldn't have some extra knowledge and skills.

5. You didn't have to know any language and write some programs code to become a member or a friend of the group.

6. Computer viruses didn't come for a long time.

7. Developers of antiviral software gain money from selling their remedy to a new widely hyped by the mass medina virus.

Task 7. Translate from Russian into English:

Задание 7. Переведите с русского языка на английский:

1. История компьютерных вирусов началась недавно, но они уже стали легендарными.

2. Вирусы должны бороться за выживание в сложных условиях противоречивых компьютерных систем.

3. Вирусы написаны "одинокими волками" или группами программистов.

4. Компьютерная вирусная группа — неофициальная некоммерческая организация, объединяющая программистов — авторов вирусов независимо от их квалификации.

5. Каждый может стать членом клуба, если он создает вирусы, изучает их по причине создания и распространения.

6. Однако иногда создание вирусов может стать представительным занятием, приносящим постоянный доход.

7. Но не забудьте, что создание, использование и распространение вредных программ для ПК — преступное нарушение, также как и использование версий программ-взломщиков.

Task 8. Find the sentences in Passive Voice in the text:

Задание 8. Найдите предложения с пассивным залогом: