| When we think of the people who make our lives miserable by spreading malicious(恶意的)viruses(病毒) most of us imagine an unpopular teenage boy getting rid or his anger．But Sarah Gordon an expert in computer viruses says “A hacker(黑客)or a virus writer is just as likely to be the guy next door to you．Your average hacker is not necessarily someone dressed entirely in black and wearing a nose ring．She may be a 50 – year – old female．” The virus writers have varied backgrounds．While most of them are male some are female．Many have good relationships with their families; most are popular with their peers (同龄人)．They don’t spend all their time in the basement．One virus writer volunteers working with elderly people． Hackers and virus writers are actually very different．Hackers tend to have a more thorough knowledge of systems and a more highly developed skill set while virus writers generally take a shallower approach to what they’re doing．Virus writing is looked down upon most for lack of required skill． Their motivations(动机)may also differ．While both hackers and virus writers are at first attracted by the technical challenge hacking is more about power and control．When you are hacking and you get into a system you take it over and control it． Gordon explains that people write viruses for a number of reasons．Some may regard it as a technical challenge even though writing a virus is actually very easy．Younger virus writers like to be part of a group which is important to them．Or it may be a way to make a social statement．If you’re a young person who doesn’t have much power and you can attract attention with a political statement in a virus that travels all around the world．You might think you’re making a difference imagining yourself a modern – day social activist．Gordon says “It’s a big deal to them when they see it on CNN．They feel like they’ve reached the world．” “Most virus writers don’t understand to damage they do．” Gordon says．“They think it’s not really wrong．Or they may think everybody has antivirus software so it won’t really hurt anybody．” Fortunately social pressure is changing the impressions people have of hackers and virus writers．Their own peers are beginning to say to them “This is not cool．” The media(媒体)used to promote(提升)virus writers as talents and heroes．But now it has changed its tune．“We are seeing the media start to turn around ” Gordon says “We’re getting the message out to young people that writing viruses really isn’t cool．” |