> I think the only useful way to ensure this is to make it the default in any e-mail client. I agree. > But this is still only half the way uphill -- it also

> I think the only useful way to ensure this is to make it the default in any e-mail client. I agree. > But this is still only half the way uphill -- it also means storage should also be secure That would be ideal. But even without that, something useful has been done since it is practical for the NSA/GCHQ to read all internet traffic, it is not pratical fro them to burgle everyone's house. If PCs come with encryption as standard, it needs to be a steganographic file system, with multiple keys revealing different sets of files and with the number of possible keys being very large. Otherwise, an adversary could simply use rubber hose techniques to get the information. > including remote ones like Gmail Gmail represents a single point of failure and is thus always going to be attractive to an adversary. Anything stored unencrypted on gmail, Google Drive, or equivalent -- one should assume the NSA can read it. > The first one is unlikely to happen IMHO, as it would mean companies that depend on mining your e-mail, like Google, would basically have to stop doing it. You're right in that gmail's business model is basically anti-privacy. We need to convince people to use local email software not store their email on a remote website (such as gmail). > The other one is even more unlikely to happen as it would require people to actually invest time in using computers You're right, because it's impossible to have a zero-user interface filesystem encryption (since people need to type in their password). > something which our society has constantly brainwashed to think they shouldn't do -- everything should be plug'n'play and trivial and just work out of the box. There's certainly an element of truth to this. > Now that our decades-long dream of seeing everyone having access to a computer and to a vast network of information has finally come true, it doesn't look like such a beautiful dream anymore... Computers can be the biggest tool for freedom and empowerment ever invented, or the biggest tool for coercion and oppression. I believe this will be one of the biggest political issues of our times.