email hacking

[Phil]

It helps if you have a different password for each site you use, of course this is what I do, but then have to write them all down so I can remember them?

Absolutely, although I tend to have a different password for each important financial websites like banking, ebay etc, then have a few common passwords between 'social' forums like this one. If hackers break into a forum like this (not suggesting they have) and get everyones password and email address they can try that combination with any website where they think they can commit fraud.