Bruce Schneier, an internet-security expert, thinks it is a bit like worrying about spammers stealing a copy of the telephone directory.

ECONOMIST: A large theft of company e-mail lists causes controversy

It was only last year that the first Chinese Yellow Pages telephone business directory was published.

ECONOMIST: E-business in China

On another occasion, a man contacted BT, giving Miss Dando's ex-directory telephone number and address and asking for her line to be changed to his name.

BBC: Police: We may not get Dando killer

Mr Simplot was unstuffy: he often answered the telephone himself and his number was never ex-directory.

ECONOMIST: Jack Simplot