节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-09-24
难易度:High
关键字:hacker, activist, computer programmer, cult, hacktivism, activism, handle
Welcome back, everybody.
This month's TECHNOLOGY feature talks about hacktivism,
a new way people are harnessing the power of the Internet to protest injustice,
defend free speech and promote human rights.
Hacktivists are not content to simply set up a website and then wait for you to
come and read what it says.
They are actively making their causes known through hacking into computer
systems.
Let's continue reading now down on line 13.
Hacktivism.
As opposed to cyber criminals, who use their hacking skills to steal,
hacktivists are driven by ideals.
They might seek to reveal weaknesses in security systems, protest policies that
limit freedom or simply draw media attention to certain causes.
The term hacktivism was first coined by members of the hacker group CULT OF THE
DEAD COW (cDc) in the late 1990s.
In an essay titled "Waging Peace on the Internet",
group member Oxblood Ruffin describes hacktivism as "using technology to advance
human rights through electronic media." Of course,
not all hacktivists agree with Ruffin's opinion.
We were just talking about hiding your identity because often hacking is
illegal.
But what makes this different than cyber criminals?
All right. Cyber criminals are people who hack to try and steal.
They use their hacking skills to try and take people's money or steal
information.
So as opposed to cyber criminals who's hacking... who use their hacking skills
to steal, hacktivists are driver by ideals.
To be driven means you are motivated.
That's what keeps you going.
And they're driven by ideals.
OK. And an ideal is your concept of what is right or wrong, what you believe.
Well, that is our Grammar on the Go sentence.
So we're going go check in with Liz.
Hi there, friends.
I hope you're doing well today.
My name is Liz, and it's time for Grammar on the Go.
Our TECHNOLOGY article of the month is about hacktivism. And we read:
As opposed to cyber criminals who use their hacking skills to steal, hacktivists
are driven by ideals.
That's our Grammar Tip sentence.
And today we're looking at the idiom, as opposed to.
This idiom is used when we want to point out the difference between two things.
In the case of today's sentence, we're showing how hacktivists are different
from cyber criminals.
Hacktivists are driven by ideals while cyber criminals use their hacking skills
to steal.
Now of course, the writer could have used the word "while" instead of the idiom
as opposed to.
But since the purpose is to tell readers how hacktivists are very different from
cyber criminals, the idiom, as opposed to, is much more effective.
OK. Let's have a look at some examples.
If you're feeling lonely, why not go and find someone to help as opposed to
staying at home and feeling sorry for yourself?
Or: As opposed to dining at a fancy restaurant, Mr. and Mrs. Clark decided to go
on a picnic to celebrate their anniversary.
Friends, if you have a copy of this month's magazine with you, be sure to check
out today's Grammar Tip section for more example sentences.
That's all the time we have for today.
This is Liz with Grammar on the Go signing off.
Bye-bye.
Hacking into other people's computers or websites is illegal.
But hacktivists are not trying to steal people's information or money, they just
want their ideals, or their beliefs, to be heard.
Or they might seek to reveal weaknesses in security systems.
Now to reveal means to show.
And a weakness is something that is not strong enough.
Now what kind of security systems are we talking about?
OK. Usually they try and hack into online security systems such as government
websites.
These security systems are designed to keep people out of these types of
websites.
So they might hack into the weak security systems, or they might protest
policies that limit freedom.
So just like an activist, they make their voice heard, but now it's all online.
OK. Now they might be concerned about things that limit their freedom.
Of course, freedom is your ability to do what you please.
And something that limits it prevents that from happening; and they don't want
that to happen.
That's right.
They're fighting for their rights.
Or they might simply draw media attention to a certain cause or causes.
So media means television and Internet and radio.
So they want people to pay attention to certain causes.
And their causes would be what they truly believe in.
Right. What they want people to know that they believe, so.
They are trying to get other people to understand their beliefs through all
these different things.
OK. So now we see who the hacktivists are.
Where did we will get this terminology?
OK. Well, the word "hacktivism" was first coined, or invented or set, for the
first time by members of the hacker group CULT OF THE DEAD COW.
Or the cDc.
Now the cult, we need to know what a cult is first.
A "cult" is a religious or political group whose beliefs are considered maybe a
little extreme by most people, but they continue to do it.
So why would they call themselves a cult?
Well, obviously what they believe and what they do is a bit extreme.
When they are hacking into people's computers and trying to make their voices
heard online, it is pretty extreme.
Now Ryan, why would we... why would they call themselves of a dead cow?
Uh... that's something I'm not quite sure of.
It's a little bit strange and gross, sounded.
It does sound gross.
I don't know why they chose it.
But I do know that it catches your attention.
And that's what they want to do.
So this group got started in the late 1990s.
And it was... this term came from them in this essay that was written.
OK. This essay was titled "Waging Peace on the Internet." And so what does that
phrase "waging" actually mean?
"Waging" means to fight for it.
So they're looking for peace on the Internet.
Now one of the group members named Oxblood Ruffin describes hacktivism as: using
technology to advance human rights through electronic media.
OK. So his name was Oxblood Ruffin.
That's probably his handle there.
And he's saying, well, hacktivism uses technology in order to advance, or move
forward, human rights.
That's right.
And human rights are your rights just given to you because you are alive.
Now of course, not all hacktivists agree.
But with... with Ruffin's opinion, but a lot of them do.
Yes. And so they are still very strong today.
And hacktivism is continuing to grow.
And we're going to see tomorrow exactly how it is still being used today.
But before we can talk about that, you need to visit the Chat Room with Ken and
Bryan.
Hey, Bryan.
Hi, Ken.
Wow! Do you have to do all that paperwork today?
No, fortunately not.
This isn't for work.
My cousin is writing a book.
And she asked me to proofread it for her.
Wow. That's exciting.
So what is she entitling it?
I think you meant what is she titling it, right?
Titling? But I thought "entitle" meant to give a title to something.
Well, some people do use it that way, and you can even see that definition in
some dictionaries.
But "entitle" actually isn't the preferred term for that meaning.
"Title" is better.
So "title" can be a verb as well as a noun?
That's right.
And this verb is frequently used in its passive form.
So you often hear people say "the book is titled..." and then give the name.
I see. So do people prefer the word "titled" because it's shorter?
That might actually be part of it.
The other reason is that "entitle" has another meaning too.
Oh, really? What else can "entitle" mean?
It means to give someone a right to something.
For example, I could say that your library card entitles you to check out books.
Oh, I get it.
So could you also use "entitle" when you're talking about rights everyone has?
Sure.
You could say something like: All people are entitled to equal treatment under
the law.
So that would mean that everyone follows the same laws and gets the same
protection.
Right.
You can use "entitle" with either a noun or a verb.
In other words, you can say someone is entitled to something, which would use an
noun.
Or you can say that they are entitled to do something, which uses a verb.
I see.
So what is your cousin's book titled?
She actually hasn't chosen a title yet, so she asked me to pick one.
So Ken, I guess that means I'm entitled to title her book.
Ah, now I understand.
(Chinese).
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And that's it for today.
I'll see you next time.
Bye-bye.
Thank you, Michelle.
Thank you for that.
Hacktivists use computers and computer networks to promote their causes and
protest things they think are unfair.
On the surface, it all sounds good and admirable.
But hidden behind hacktivism's humanistic pursuit lies a dark secret.
Some, not all, but some hacktivists use malicious, illegal and destructive
methods to make their ideas known and force change.
And this is the controversy we'll focus on in tomorrow's lesson, so.
Until then, I and everyone else here at Studio Classroom hope the rest of your
Monday is great.
Take care.