Dodgy Dealer

U3 - the software loaded USB sticks that enable you to take your desktop (and all your files, even some of your programs) with you and run them on any PC is terrific as far as I'm concerned. I've got the Sandisk Titanium 4GB hardware, but even allowing for the heavy compression U3 uses, it is not possible to get everything on it. So I was delighted to see that there was an 8GB version coming out.

I found it showing as being in stock on a UK site called MyMemory, at a sensible price, so I went ahead and ordered, paying with my debit card. But nothing arrived, although thankfully my card wasn't charged. All very straightforward. But then I decided that I'd email them and cancel the order, as I didn't want it left hanging indefinitely. And the email bounced straight back to me, which started to ring alarm bells.

To underline my concerns, I also started receiving a lot of spam in what had always been a spam-free inbox, sent to me by name, inviting me to buy electrical goods on a couple of Asian websites. So there are only two possibilities: that the MyMemory site is not legitimate at all, or that their server is insecure and has been hacked.

I've cancelled my card; a pain but no more. And I've written to them to establish whether or not they're genuine. But I won't be using them again under any circumstances. So be warned; I'm posting this here to flag up a warning on this site.