For those of us in the online security industry, we don't question the fact that cyber crime is a real threat to consumers.  And anyone who has been a victim of data theft can attest that security is nothing to scoff at.

We've come across a story, thanks to a heads up from our friends over at CSIA, about someone who paid (literally!) the price of his ignorance about cyber security. Attempting to prove a point that data security is nothing to make a fuss about, TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson published his bank details in his British newspaper column. The outcome? A few days later, sure enough, a direct debit had been taken out of Clarkson's account.

BBC News quotes Clarkson as telling his Sunday Times column readers:

"I opened my bank statement this morning to find out that someone has set up a direct debit which automatically takes £500 from my account. The bank cannot find out who did this because of the Data Protection Act and they cannot stop it from happening again. I was wrong and I have been punished for my mistake."

Clarksons story serves as a clear illustration of why it's important to keep your personal and financial information under your control - data thieves are real!