Hacker News Reader

With unencrypted communication, any insecure Wifi network is enough to "leak" your information, it's much worse then "only" Google/NSA/etc having access to it.

View on HN

Whether you data is encrypted or not is really not relevant when the device's OS cannot be trusted. You can encrypt 'till the cows come home, but if the OS is stealing your data before you have a chance to encrypt it, your encryption is worthless.

I just want people to stop thinking that encryption is some magic bullet that will solve all communication trust issues.

It's not completely worthless - it's the difference between the targeted attacker having your data through the backdoor in your devices OS, and that attacker PLUS anyone on the unsecured wifi in the coffee shop having your data. Yes, it's a difference of degree, not kind; but it's still relevant.

Sure, I was just commenting on the potential ability of the NSA in particular to grab it.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com