SSS 2011-10-26
时间：2018-12-24 作者：英语课 分类：Scientific American(十)月
英语课
This is Scientific American's 60-Second Science. I'm Christopher Intagliata. Got a minute?
Used to be if spies wanted to eavesdrop 1, they planted a bug 2. These days, it's much easier. Because we all carry potential bugs 3 in our pockets—smartphones. One team of researchers used an iPhone to track typing on a nearby computer keyboard with up to 80 percent accuracy. They presented the findings at a computer security conference in Chicago.
The researchers designed a malicious 4 app for the iPhone 4. When you place the phone near a keyboard, it exploits accelerometer and gyroscope data to sense vibrations 5 as the victim types—detecting whether keystrokes come from the left or right side of the keyboard, and how near or far subsequent keys are from each other. Then, using that seismic 6 fingerprint 7, the app checks a pre-created "vibrational 8" dictionary for the most likely words—a technique that works reliably on words of three letters or more.
Of course, you'd need to install the app to allow it to spy. But whereas most apps have to ask permission to access location data or the camera, that's not so for the accelerometer. This kind of attack may offer good reason to limit accelerometer access too—and keep iPhones from becoming "spiPhones."
Thanks for the minute. For Scientific American's 60-Second Science, I'm Christopher Intagliata.
1 eavesdrop
v.偷听，倾听
- He ensconced himself in the closet in order to eavesdrop.他藏在壁橱里，以便偷听。
- It is not polite to eavesdrop on the conversation of other people.偷听他人说话是很不礼貌的。
2 bug
n.虫子；故障；窃听器；vt.纠缠；装窃听器
- There is a bug in the system.系统出了故障。
- The bird caught a bug on the fly.那鸟在飞行中捉住了一只昆虫。
3 bugs
adj.疯狂的，发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 )；病菌；虫子；[计算机]（制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的）错误
- All programs have bugs and need endless refinement. 所有的程序都有漏洞，都需要不断改进。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
4 malicious
adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的
- You ought to kick back at such malicious slander. 你应当反击这种恶毒的污蔑。
- Their talk was slightly malicious.他们的谈话有点儿心怀不轨。
5 vibrations
n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动
- We could feel the vibrations from the trucks passing outside. 我们可以感到外面卡车经过时的颤动。
- I am drawn to that girl; I get good vibrations from her. 我被那女孩吸引住了，她使我产生良好的感觉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 seismic
a.地震的，地震强度的
- Earthquakes produce two types of seismic waves.地震产生两种地震波。
- The latest seismic activity was also felt in northern Kenya.肯尼亚北部也感觉到了最近的地震活动。
7 fingerprint
n.指纹；vt.取...的指纹
- The fingerprint expert was asked to testify at the trial.指纹专家应邀出庭作证。
- The court heard evidence from a fingerprint expert.法院听取了指纹专家的证词。
8 vibrational
adj.振动的，摇摆的
- However, heating energizes the vibrational, rotational, and electronic motions all at once. 但是，加热会一下子把振动、转动和电子运动统统加强。 来自英汉非文学 - 科技
- Such photons will excite the higher vibrational levels of the OH molecule. 这种光子会激发OH分子的较高振动能级。 来自辞典例句