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Currently, I am using Symantec's PGP desktop whole disk encryption for my Mac. After hearing that FileVault was insecure and supposedly easily crackaable.

However, PGP has been around for a long time, and I've hear rumours that the NSA has backdoors to all of the main encryption methods (could likely be horse-dookey), but with a supercomputer like this, who needs a backdoor? http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/03/16/nsas-new-data-center-and-ultra-fast-supercomputer-aim-to-crack-worlds-strongest-crypto/

Is PGP safe against a behemoth like this?

Is there anything better nowadays, which is practical to use for basics like securing a text file, disk, or email (Not in research / academic phases)?

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closed as not constructive by Jeff Ferland♦ Jan 18 at 23:50

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PGP is still widely used, the benefit of PGP is not only encryption but also allows you to proof the authenticity or legitimacy of a file (you can sign the file). If you only want encryption than I suggest using AES. Truecrypt for instance can encrypt files or disks, but it doesn't provide the proof of authenticity that PGP does.

Also check this: http://www.eetimes.com/design/embedded-internet-design/4372428/How-secure-is-AES-against-brute-force-attacks- It explains how long this would take, even with a supercomputer.

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I heard the NSA could pop PGP like a grapefruit? – Zippy Zeppoli Jan 18 at 23:00
So you have ample documentation about this? Also what documents or files are you keeping that are interesting to the NSA? – Lucas Kauffman Jan 18 at 23:05
Not to mention there are plenty of ways to get the data without breaking the encryption, usually it's easier to either get the user to use your encryption keys, or get the user to give the key/access to the data. This is why good key management is important, and I haven't gone into what can be done with physical access yet. – ewanm89 Jan 18 at 23:28
@LucasKauffman Do you think they'd spend $2 billion on a new datacenter if it couldn't? – Zippy Zeppoli Jan 18 at 23:59
@ZippyZeppoli The NSA should have more important targets than you and other uses for supercomputers. And for the US government, $2 billion is remarkably cheap... – ewanm89 Jan 19 at 0:02
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