The phone hacking scandal and how the law protects our privacy

The phone hacking scandal perfectly highlights the privacy law's problems; it doesn't work. It didn't give people privacy with respect to mobile phone voicemail.

This is clearly an inefficient process; spend resources drawing up the law, the law fails in its deterrent, then spend resources dealing with the aftermath.

Why not use something already accessible to the general public at very low cost and far more reliable?

1. Common sense. Don't allow anything sensitive to be protected by a weak 4 digit pass code. Do not use a mobile operator unless they promise a good system.
2. Use encryption. There is software available for free (TrueCrypt) that even the CIA wouldn't be able to get into if you gave them a couple of years.

A classic case of how the law needlessly wastes resources; the solution is already in the hands of the individual.