But massive overkill. Unless the hypothesis is that the NSA already has a backdoor into your computer and/or mine, run-of-the-mill encryption enables us to communicate without being subject to their deep-sea trawling. Obviously, if you or I should be targeted for special attention by the NSA, then the extra steps are justified.

I think it's probable that secure-mail services offered by European ISPs are secure from the NSA's trawling. Not necessarily secure from national trawling, however. Also, the degree of exchange of information between national spy services needs to be examined : wholesale? (UK/US), retail? (Germany/US)...

_{It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II}