OH, how I empathise with Helen Mead (Evening Press, Tuesday, July 6). I bought my computer to sort out all my family history information, written on many bits of paper, into an orderly format.

Instead, I find myself piloting the Starship Enterprise.

I have to "log on" now because I have had a security system "installed" to protect this spaceship from invaders.

I have to kill spam, protect the wall from fire, prevent it from being chopped down by hackers and heaven forbid the poor thing should catch a virus from cyber space.

I frequently also have to download "upgrades". The computer is so secure I can no longer access the security system. The Internet is useful for family history research and to contact my son, who lives abroad. I don't have secure files, any one can come and read them if they feel the need.

Why, then, cannot someone devise a simple means of securing these machines, which doesn't cost a small fortune - before I have a nervous breakdown - and for which you don't need a degree?

A system, which has instructions in plain English instead of all this gobbledygook, would be very useful. I am sure there must be millions like me who are mystified by bytes, megabytes, gigabytes or whatever they are called.

The same applies to the instruction manuals. How a simple soul such as me can possibly find their way around one of those, even "An Idiots Guide" is difficult. Believe me, I have tried.

Mrs B A Bullivant,

Brailsford Crescent,

Water Lane,

York.

Updated: 12:15 Wednesday, July 14, 2004