英文新闻短文阅读Be on guard when online.docx

Be on guard when onlineIs asking for the Wi-Fi password the first thing you do when you walk into a restaurant or cafe? For many the answer is yes, for others it may be the second thing they do. In any case, in an era of logging in wherever we go, many people use sensitive information on the invisible Net, posing a risk to their finances and personal safety.Here, three students share their experience of being tricked or having their personal information stolen. Whether its chatting on QQ, shopping on Taobao or connecting to a “free” Wi-Fi network, not being careful can have seriousconsequences.Following safety tips are provided by Xu Xingxing, 28, a senior engineer in the Internet payment department of ePro (Beijing) Information Technology Company.Chatting onlineHackers plant viruses on public computers and websites to steal the passwords for your accounts when you log on.Yang Lina, 22, a senior majoring in Chinese literature at Shandong Normal University, chatted to her niece online during the summer vacation. “My niece was studying in Germany at the time. When I asked when she would come back, she said she wanted to fly back next week but that her bank account had been blocked and that she couldnt get any cash,” said Yang.“She asked me to transfer 10,000 yuan to her classmates account, and not to tell her parents as they would worry about her. She launched a video chat and I could see her. Whats more, her behavior was the same as usual. For instance, she always called Bonn a small village,” said Yang.Yang transferred 10,000 yuan to the account. But later, when her niece appeared again, she realizeed she had been tricked.How to avoid being trickedAlways set up a complicated password for your accounts. Its best to include special characters in the password, as this makes it harder for hackers todecipher.Most viruses come from illegal websites, USB sticks and mobile hard drives, so you should run a virus scan before you use them. When a virus accesses your computer, the hacker can control the camera to record your image, or even to record you typing in passwords on your keyboard. So pay attention that you dont point the camera at your keyboard.Friends and relatives should also be cautious about strange requests, especially from someone who is abroad. People abroad are usually harder to reach whenverificationis needed, and relatives and family members are often extra protective when they hear about an emergency. Students should leave multiple contact numbers with their family and keep family and friends updated on their news.Online shoppingLiu Wenjiang, 18, a sophomore majoring in automotive engineering at Wuhan Technical College of Communications, found a new laptop selling for only 1,600 yuan on Taobao.“It was only half the market price,” Liu said. “I talked to the seller online and he or she sent me a link asking me to do a favor by paying one yuan for an item and leaving a good rating for the store. When I had done this I could take advantage of the offer, the seller said.”The link opened a website that was so similar to the Taobao website that Liu didnt suspect a thing. He typed in his bank account and password according to the prompts.When the website told Liu there was an error, he asked the seller what the problem was, but the seller didnt reply.A few minutes later, he discovered that 2,000 yuan had been taken from his bank account.How to avoid phishingIts best to use a U aegis, or adynamicverificationcode for every bank transaction. With these precautions, fraudsters cant take your money even if they know your password.The passwords for your social media accounts, bank account, e-mail and forums should all be different. This is because the password for a forum can be easilycracked, and if the passwords for your other accounts are all the same, hackers can access your e-mail inbox, find personal information and figure out other passwords.Public Wi-FiRen Zhijiong, 24, a fresh graduate who works as a marketing executive in Shenzhen, used his cell phone to access the Wi-Fi at a Starbucks cafe.“I found two Wi-Fi networks, one called Starbucks and the other Starbucks2. The first one required me to register on a website, but the second one didnt require a password. So I connected to the second one, and paid for an air ticket through my mobile banking app. But when I tried to buy a movie ticket through another app, I found I couldnt log on to my bank account,” said Ren.“I called my bank and they told me that my password had been changed. When I asked the staff at Starbucks, they told me that they didnt provide a Wi-Fi network called Starbucks2.”How to stay safe on the goUsually, you need to ask the staff in the store to give you the Wi-Fi password. If there are several Wi-Fi networks, ask the staff to confirm which one is provided by the store.Some people like to connect to Wi-Fi networks automatically on their smartphone or laptop, but this means theyre at risk of falling into a trap without even noticing. Its safer to choose “connectmanually”.Writing a cover letter to impressIf you apply for a job position with a foreign company, chances are you will be asked to provide an English cover letter along with your resume.But what exactly is a cover letter? How long should it be? And most importantly, what should you write about?A cover letter, or motivation letter, is almost a standard requirement when applying for international jobs. In brief, it is a letter introducing yourself as a person and explaining why you are applying for the position. But there is more to writing a good cover letter.Usually a cover letter should be one page in length, including the senders and therecipients address, which should be placed at the top of the page. Under this, write a shortheaderinboldprint to inform the reader what the letter is about. For example, “Internship opportunity at Haier Group”. If you are sending an e-mail, put this information in the subject box.Next, address the employer by name if you know the contact person. Otherwise it isacceptableto use “Dear Hiring Manager”. In the first paragraph you should then say what position you are applying for and how you found out about it.In the next few paragraphs explain in detail why you believe yourself to be a suitable candidate for the position. The aim of the cover letter is to encourage the reader to look at your resume, so be confident but try to avoid repeating the same information that is already in your resume.It is very important to tailor your cover letter to the position you are applying for. Read through the job description carefully and explain why you meet its requirements.It is best to provide concrete examples of where you learnt the skills necessary for the job, so include some information from your work experience and studies.Dont lie, as HR managers can easily assess whether you are saying the truth or not. Also, remember that if you are invited for an interview, you will most likely be asked questions about your previous experience, so think of good examples that demonstrate your skills, such as teamwork or problem solving. This is where you can really stand out from other applicants.Writing aconvincingcover letter takes a lot of time and effort, but dont think you cancut cornersby writing just one letter and sending it to different employers. The first thing HR managers will pay attention to is whether you havethoroughlyresearched the company. If they receive agenericletter it will probably end up in thebin.Ask your parents, friends or your universitys career center to read through your cover letter, and make sure there are no spelling mistakes. You can look at samples of cover letters on the Internet for reference, but do not copy them.In the final paragraph, express your enthusiasm for the position and say that you look forward to a response. Also offer to provide further information on request.Make long internships pay offZhang Ze, 22, a senior majoring in Chinese literature at Beijing Normal University, is interning with a TV station. Even though hes been there for six months, he still hasnt been offered a job.“My internship contract doesnt have a specific end date, but I can keep interning due to business needs. Ive worked for six months now on only anominalsalary and Ill stay as long as the company wants me to,” says Zhang. “The reason Im hanging on is that I really want to get an offer.”Facing a tough job market, many graduates like Zhang choose to do long-term internships, usually between three months and a year in length, in an effort to gain workplace experience and skills. But keeping up appearances and proving your ability is no easy task.Here, HR managers offer advice on how to make the most of an internship and get a job offer to make all that hard work pay off.Make a contributionNot all internships have a specificduration, so some interns stay on as long as possible in the hope of improving their chances of getting an offer.But Shen Qi, HR manager at AVIC Capital Co Ltd in Beijing, says showinginitiativeiscrucialto getting your name on the candidate list.“A long-term internship will provide you with a detailed understanding of the industry and an opportunity to experience a full-time role in a particular business area,” says Shen.“From theoutsetyou should contribute to your teams output, take responsibility, work with senior professionals on key projects, and expand your skills and experience.”Communicate effectivelyEmployers always seek interns who are motivated and demonstrate a go-getter attitude.Employers also want people doing internships in their company who have a strong work ethic, are dependable, and work well both independently and in a team environment.“Pay attention to priceless skills including effective communication, public speaking, negotiation, patience, persuasion and interpersonal skills,” says Yang Xiaohai, general manager of human resources in Maersk China Shipping Co Ltd.For instance, Yang said, make sure you take theinitiativeto introduce yourself and demonstrate a positive and friendly attitude toward everyone you meet, from the security guards to the CEO.Keep up-to-date on employer information and read what the professionals are reading. 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