Microsoft blames U.S. spy agency for WannaCry (18th May, 2017)
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1705/170518-ransomware.html#google_vignette
The technology company Microsoft is angry with America's National Security Agency (NSA).
Microsoft said the WannaCry ransomware cyber-attack happened because the NSA keeps lots of
cyber-weapons on its computers. Ransomware is a type of harmful software that blocks access to
a computer until the owner of the computer pays money (a ransom) to the hackers. The NSA is
America's military intelligence organization. It helps to keep America's communications and
information systems safe. It is also responsible for stopping cyber-attacks against the USA.
However, experts say the WannaCry ransomware used computer spying tools originally designed
by the NSA.
Microsoft President Brad Smith said governments needed to wake up to the problem of storing
cyber-weapons that hackers can steal. He said it was as big a problem as someone stealing
missiles from the USA. When talking about the WannaCry attack, he said: "This attack provides
yet another example of why the stockpiling of [these things] by governments is such a problem."
The European police agency Europol said WannaCry has affected 200,000 computers in 150
countries. In the UK, WannaCry caused many problems with the work of Britain's National
Health Service. Many operations were cancelled. Experts warned people to back up their files
because a second wave of attacks could come.
1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
The article says America's NSA is angry with Microsoft. T / F
America's National Security Agency has cyber-weapons on its computers. T / F
Ransomware means people must pay hackers to access their files. T / F
The WannaCry hackers used spying tools first created by the NSA. T / F
Microsoft's president said governments needed to wake up. T / F
Brad Smith said governments storing cyber-weapons isn't dangerous. T / F
The WannaCry ransomware affected over 250,000 computers. T / F
Experts said the wave of attacks was now over. T / F
2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
angry
happened
harmful
responsible for
originally
6. storing
7. stealing
8. provides
9. caused
10. warned
1. presents
2. furious
3. keeping
4. occurred
5. created
6. first
7. in charge of
8. advised
9. thieving
10. dangerous
Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
happened
experts
ransom
angry
originally
military
blocks
safe
The technology company Microsoft is (1) ____________ with America's National Security Agency (NSA).
Microsoft said the WannaCry ransomware cyber-attack (2) ____________ because the NSA keeps lots of
cyber-weapons on its computers. Ransomware is a type of harmful software that (3) ____________
access to a computer until the owner of the computer pays money (a (4) ____________) to the hackers.
The NSA is America's (5) ____________ intelligence organization. It helps to keep America's
communications and information systems (6) ____________. It is also responsible for stopping cyberattacks against the USA. However, (7) ____________ say the WannaCry ransomware used computer
spying tools (8) ____________ designed by the NSA.
Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
yet
storing
caused
such
wave
stealing
operations
affected
Microsoft president Brad Smith said governments needed to wake up to the problem of (9)
____________ cyber-weapons that hackers can steal. He said it was as big a problem as someone (10)
____________ missiles from the USA. When talking about the WannaCry attack, he said: "This attack
provides (11) ____________ another example of why the stockpiling of [these things] by governments is
(12) ____________ a problem." The European police agency Europol said WannaCry has (13)
____________ 200,000 computers in 150 countries. In the UK, WannaCry (14) ____________ many
problems with the work of Britain's National Health Service. Many (15) ____________ were cancelled.
Experts warned people to back up their files because a second (16) ____________ of attacks could
come.
DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1. What did you think when you read the headline?
2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'spy'?
3. What do you know about the WannaCry ransomware?
4. How dangerous are cyber-attacks?
5. How could cyber-attacks be used in wars?
6. What is ransomware?
7. How bad would it be if you lost access to all your computer files?
8. What do you do to protect your computer?
9. What cyber-attacks do you know about?
10. Why can't governments stop hackers?
Malware vs Virus
https://www.trellix.com/en-us/security-awareness/ransomware/malware-vs-viruses.html
The terms "virus" and "malware" are often used interchangeably. However, they are technically different,
so the question of malware vs. viruses is an important one.
Malware is a catch-all term for any type of malicious software, regardless of how it works, its intent, or
how it’s distributed. A virus is a specific type of malware that self-replicates by inserting its code into other
programs. Computer viruses have been prominent since almost the beginning of the commercial internet:
The first one was created in 1982 for the Apple II, and other versions quickly followed.
Viruses spread by attaching themselves to legitimate files and programs, and are distributed through
infected websites, flash drives, and emails. A victim activates a virus by opening the infected application
or file. Once activated, a virus may delete or encrypt files, modify applications, or disable system functions.
Examples of malware vs. viruses
There are many different types of viruses. These are the three most common examples:
The file infector can burrow into executable files and spread through a network. A file infector can
overwrite a computer's operating system or even reformat its drive.
The macro virus takes advantage of programs that support macros. Macro viruses usually arrive as Word
or Excel documents attached to a spam email, or as a zipped attachment. Fake file names tempt the
recipients to open the files, activating the viruses. An old but still prominent type of malware, macro
viruses, remain popular with hackers.
Polymorphic viruses modify their own code. The virus replicates and encrypts itself, changing its code
just enough to evade detection by antivirus programs.
Malware encompasses all types of malicious software, including viruses, and may have a variety of
goals. A few of the common objectives of malware are:
Trick a victim into providing personal data for identity theft
Steal consumer credit card data or other financial data
Assume control of multiple computers to launch denial-of-service attacks against other networks
Infect computers and use them to mine bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies
The five types of malware
Besides viruses, multiple other types of malware can infect not only desktops, laptops, and servers, but
also smartphones. Malware categories include the following:
Worms. A worm is a standalone program that can self-replicate and spread over a network. Unlike a
virus, a worm spreads by exploiting a vulnerability in the infected system or through email as an
attachment masquerading as a legitimate file. A graduate student created the first worm (the Morris
worm) in 1988 as an intellectual exercise. Unfortunately, it replicated itself quickly and soon spread across
the internet.
Ransomware. As the name implies, ransomware demands that users pay a ransom—usually in bitcoin
or other cryptocurrency—to regain access to their computer. The most recent category of malware is
ransomware, which garnered headlines in 2016 and 2017 when ransomware infections encrypted the
computer systems of major organizations and thousands of individual users around the globe.
Scareware. Many desktop users have encountered scareware, which attempts to frighten the victim
into buying unnecessary software or providing their financial data. Scareware pops up on a user's desktop
with flashing images or loud alarms, announcing that the computer has been infected. It usually urges the
victim to quickly enter their credit card data and download a fake antivirus program.
Adware and spyware. Adware pushes unwanted advertisements at users and spyware secretly collects
information about the user. Spyware may record the websites the user visits, information about the user's
computer system and vulnerabilities for a future attack, or the user’s keystrokes. Spyware that records
keystrokes is called a keylogger. Keyloggers steal credit card numbers, passwords, account numbers, and
other sensitive data simply by logging what the user types.
Fileless malware. Unlike traditional malware, fileless malware does not download code onto a
computer, so there is no malware signature for a virus scanner to detect. Instead, fileless malware
operates in the computer's memory and may evade detection by hiding in a trusted utility, productivity
tool, or security application. An example is Operation RogueRobin, which was uncovered in July 2018.
RogueRobin is spread through Microsoft Excel Web Query files that are attached to an email. It causes the
computer to run PowerShell command scripts, providing an attacker access to the system. As PowerShell
is a trusted part of the Microsoft platform, this attack typically does not trigger a security alert. Some
fileless malware is also clickless, so a victim does not need to click on the file to activate it.
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2008/200803-hackers.html
hackers
Three people have been charged for their alleged involvement in the massive hacking attack on Twitter
that took place on July the 15th. Hackers hacked into 130 high-profile accounts, including those of
former US President Barack Obama, presidential candidate Joe Biden, rapper Kanye West, Amazon CEO
Jeff Bezos and SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The accounts of companies like Apple and Uber were
also breached. The hack was part of a bitcoin scam. The perpetrators compromised Twitter's
administrative tools to gain access to the accounts. They then altered the accounts to post legitimatelooking tweets that informed followers they could double any funds sent to a bitcoin account.
The three suspects were arrested on Friday. One is a 19-year-old from the United Kingdom, the other
two are American citizens aged 17 and 22. The 17-year-old is a resident of Florida. State investigators
believe him to be the mastermind of the hack. A state attorney has filed 30 felony charges against him
for "scamming people across America". The teen faces multiple charges, including 10 counts of
fraudulent use of personal information. A lawyer told CNN: "There is a false belief within the criminal
hacker community that attacks like the Twitter hack can be perpetrated anonymously and without
consequence." The hack resulted in 415 transfers being made into the suspects' bitcoin accounts, worth
nearly $118,000.
Paragraph 1
1.alleged
a.
2.involvement
3.candidate
b.
c.
4.breached
d.
5.scam
6.perpetrator
7.legitimate
e.
f.
g.
The fact or condition of being part of an event or
situation.
A dishonest scheme; a fraud.
Made a gap in and break through a wall, barrier, security
system or defense.
A person who applies for a job or is nominated for
election.
Said, without proof, to have taken place or happened.
Conforming to the law or to rules.
A person who carries out a harmful, illegal, or immoral
act.
Paragraph 2
8. suspect
h.
9. resident
10.attorney
i.
j.
11.felony
12.fraudulent
k.
l.
In a way that prevents a person from being identified by
name.
A person thought to be guilty of a crime or offense.
Obtained, done by, or involving deception, especially
criminal deception.
A result or effect of an action or condition.
A lawyer.
13.anonymously
14.consequence
m. A crime.
n. A person who lives somewhere permanently or on a longterm basis.
1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).
The Twitter attack took place earlier this month.
Hackers accessed 130 high-profile accounts.
T/F
T/F
The account of a former US President was hacked.
T/F
The hackers managed to gain access to administrative tools in Twitter. T / F
All of the alleged perpetrators are teenagers.
T/F
The brains behind the attack is believed to be 17 years old.
One of the men faces 30 felony charges.
T/F
T/F
The scam netted the perpetrators over a million dollars.
T/F
. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.
alleged
massive
candidate
scam
altered
citizens
mastermind
felony
perpetrated
worth
brains
nominee
nationals
carried out
huge
crime
changed
supposed
valued at
fraud
Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
altered
breached
funds
profile
access
charged
compromised
former
Three people have been (1) _____________________ for their alleged involvement in the massive
hacking attack on Twitter that took place on July the 15th. Hackers hacked into 130 high- (2)
_____________________ accounts, including those of (3) _____________________ US President Barack
Obama, presidential candidate Joe Biden, rapper Kanye West, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and SpaceX and
Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The accounts of companies like Apple and Uber were also (4)
_____________________. The hack was part of a bitcoin scam. The perpetrators (5)
_____________________ Twitter's administrative tools to gain (6) _____________________ to the
accounts. They then (7) _____________________ the accounts to post legitimate-looking tweets that
informed followers they could double any (8) _____________________ sent to a bitcoin account.
Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
worth
felony
citizens
false
perpetrated
suspects
multiple
mastermind
The three (9) _____________________ were arrested on Friday. One is a 19-year-old from the United
Kingdom, the other two are American (10) _____________________ aged 17 and 22. The 17-year-old is
a resident of Florida. State investigators believe him to be the (11) _____________________ of the
hack. A state attorney has filed 30 (12) _____________________ charges against him for "scamming
people across America". The teen faces (13) _____________________ charges, including 10 counts of
fraudulent use of personal information. A lawyer told CNN: "There is a (14) _____________________
belief within the criminal hacker community that attacks like the Twitter hack can be (15)
_____________________ anonymously and without consequence." The hack resulted in 415 transfers
being made into the suspects' bitcoin accounts, (16) _____________________ nearly $118,000.
Comprehension questions
1. When did the Twitter hack take place?
2. How many accounts were hacked?
3. Which rapper's account was hacked?
4. What tools did the hackers gain access to?
5. What was the return on money promised by the hackers?
6. How old is the youngest person who was arrested?
7. How many felony charges does one of the alleged hackers face?
8. What news agency was mentioned in the article?
9. Who did a lawyer say had a false belief?
10. How much money was deposited in the hackers' bitcoin accounts?
FIRST HACKERS
Source:
https://www.liveworksheets.com/worksheets/en/English_as_a_Second_Language_%28ESL%29/Reading
_comprehension/The_early_hackers_dn1249580qq
6. Where did the police catch him?
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/wannacry-ransomware-attack-reading-for-specific-details-559642691184418775/