Tech companies turn to Wiccan to conquer viruses

Reverend Joey Talley, a witch in the Wicca faith with more than four decades' experience dealing with the occult, is the go-to person for Silicon Valley computer programmers and software designers facing problems they feel are supernatural. The fact that Talley has absolutely no background in IT doesn't bother them one bit.

"Most people want me to protect their computers from viruses and hacks," the witch says.

A recent task involved a startup whose office alarm had been infected by an "invasive species". A number of electricians had been called but all failed to solve the problem so Talley was summoned. "I don't know anything about electronics, but I got the spirit out," she said.

Besides handling maintenance problems, Talley has also been engaged in legal issues. When companies are threatened with litigation she casts spells to divert the plaintiff or the plaintiff's attorney. "Witchcraft is the art of changing consciousness at will," she said.