TalkTalk query

Good point Nanabelle I hadn't even thought of that. See I told you I was thick not tech savvy

I remember many years ago, while working in a student travel office, an American student asked for the pieces of carbon paper that went between all the copies of the credit card slips on the manual machines (do you remember them?). We had always just thrown these in the bin, but he explained that they were imprinted with all his card details and name and could easily be misused if they fell into the wrong hands. I began doing the same after that when I used my card, and often got some strange looks when I asked for the carbons, but it wasn't long before this was standard practice as we all became a bit more savvy.
So yes, the internet is not the only cause of banking fraud and identity theft.
I used to be with Tiscali before it was taken over by TalkTalk, but about a year after the takeover we switched suppliers. However, I have never ever been able to shut down the email account - there simply isn't an option on the settings to do so. And although we no longer pay them anything, there have been warnings that old customers' details have been kept. so I am keeping a close eye on my bank account.

I remember many years ago, while working in a student travel office, an American student asked for the pieces of carbon paper that went between all the copies of the credit card slips on the manual machines (do you remember them?). We had always just thrown these in the bin, but he explained that they were imprinted with all his card details and name and could easily be misused if they fell into the wrong hands. I began doing the same after that when I used my card, and often got some strange looks when I asked for the carbons, but it wasn't long before this was standard practice as we all became a bit more savvy.
So yes, the internet is not the only cause of banking fraud and identity theft.
I used to be with Tiscali before it was taken over by TalkTalk, but about a year after the takeover we switched suppliers. However, I have never ever been able to shut down the email account - there simply isn't an option on the settings to do so. And although we no longer pay them anything, there have been warnings that old customers' details have been kept. so I am keeping a close eye on my bank account.

I am with TalkTalk as well. If they are providing your broadband, presumably you are paying them (!) and so they will have your bank details. I agree with you that the only thing is to be vigilant with bank statements. Unfortunately we have just signed up to another 18 months with a different contract and the router is so intermittent that we are fed up with them.
Am sure you are not too thick ninathenana- we are none of us experts; only the hackers seem to be!
Even before the internet, we were paying for flowers over the phone with Interflora, and giving out our card details etc. I guess there has always been the opportunity for misuse.