Earlier this week my computer started behaving strangely and caused some very dodgy emails to be sent to my entire contact list which, in the absence of anti-virus protection, could have caused some nasty problems for the recipients. I am too ignorant of computers to know how this could have occurred but it seems that my email account was hacked and that led to the problem. I have since, on the advice of an expert, changed my password and all now seems to be in order.

This is apparently a fairly common problem and the question I feel compelled to ask is “why”, why on earth would somebody want to spread a virus such as this when there is no apparent gain to be had? I can understand the criminal who hacks into bank or credit card accounts and I can even understand the thinking behind those requests for money from supposed Nigerian heiresses trying desperately to access their millions but who are unable to do so unless some kind person first provides their UK bank account details! Surely nobody has ever been suckered into that one?

No, what I cannot understand is the sort of person who gets a kick simply from damaging other people’s computers. I imagine the perpetrator is probably a pathetic, pale, spotty-faced billy-no-mates living in an artificially lit attic room living on a diet of baked beans on toast and who when not on his computer spends his time analysing 1947 train timetables. He (and I’m sure it must be a he) is clearly very intelligent. It’s just a shame that his sick mind hasn’t developed sufficiently for him to use it productively.