Re: file storage in IMAP (eventually for Tramp) working and needs testing

[Ted Zlatanov]

On Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:09:52 +0900 Daiki Ueno <address@hidden> wrote: 

>>>>>> In <address@hidden> 
>>>>>> Ted Zlatanov <address@hidden> wrote:
>> On Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:45:04 +0900 Daiki Ueno <address@hidden> wrote: 
>> >> - save /imap:blockstar.com:/INBOX.test/new via tramp-imap-put-file (uses 
>> >> PGG)
>> >> - read /imap:blockstar.com:/INBOX.test/new via tramp-imap-get-file (uses 
>> >> PGG)

DU> I think this (implicit encryption) is a misdesgined feature which should
DU> be removed.  Why don't you leave the job to auto-encryption-mode so that
DU> a user can choose whether to encrypt a file by adding ".gpg"?

>> Unlike filesystems, IMAP servers are a semi-public space,

DU> Really?  I use 3 IMAP servers for everyday use and they properly
DU> implement access control like file systems.  In other words, no one can
DU> read my private emails unless s/he shares the passphrase with me.

Yes, really.  I was not talking about other IMAP users.  Whoever owns
your IMAP servers can read your unencrypted e-mails with little effort.
If you trust your 3 servers, that's great.  The vast majority of IMAP
users, as I said, have no expectation of privacy on their IMAP server
(consider GMail, for instance).  This is not a filesystem on a remote
server where you can trust user permissions to be managed correctly.

>> Very, very few users actually own and control their IMAP servers.
>> Thus, encrypting by default is IMHO the best option and the only one
>> I provided in this initial version.

DU> I think you always lack "use-case analysis".

I guess we'll have to disagree.  As I said, feel free to provide patches
to make turning encryption off easier, and of course if a vote goes
against my design I'll reconsider it.

Thanks
Ted