As delegates at last week's UN net summit in Geneva focused on how information technology can be used to improve the lives of the poor, others highlighted the issue of safe surfing.

"Computers and networks are becoming what's called a utility," said Rheinhold Scholl who works with the International Telecommunication Union, the UN group that organised the event.

"A utility is something that you notice when you don't have it anymore. And the same is becoming truer for computers and networks.

"If that's the case," said Mr Scholl, "then it's a prerequisite that computers and networks are secure."

In other words, the same viruses and worms that can heavily damage computers and networks in the developed world will be able to wreck havoc in developing countries as well.

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