On: Ask HN: do you trust your "secure email" now?

[D9u]

If the Director of the CIA can't keep his email secure, what makes anyone think that their email is more secure than his?

[zokier → D9u]

What makes you think that Director of the CIA would have particularly secure e-mail setup?

[D9u → zokier]

As the director of one of the world's most well funded intelligence agencies one would expect that Petraeus would have been properly versed in all manner of security precautions, as well as knowing how to conduct clandestine affairs without coming under the scrutiny of his counterparts, yet this was not the case at all.

So, either Petraeus was a blundering fool, or there exists no privacy for anyone...

I'm guessing that Petraeus was no blundering fool.

[dwrowe → D9u]

His professional email was likely secure moreso than we'd ever see. However, directing agency resources to cover for an affair would be more blatant than someone discovering his GMail drafts folder. Being in charge of security and having excellent delegation / leadership - doesn't make one the technical expert.

[gyepi → D9u]

Petraeus' security failures are no indication of the general availability of privacy.

He was appointed to the CIA directorship after a career in the Armed Forces, where one would not have expected him to gain such security skills.

Also being head of an organization does not imply that one necessarily has the skills to do the work of the organization.