[cosmicexplorer]

so like.......did they put this decrypted database online, or something? true, we could just perform the same operations they did, but if you're going to go through the trouble of putting your crack in public, might as well spread its fruits too

[Buge]

I'm pretty sure Cesar wants to avoid such a direct copyright violation. Sure just breaking the encryption might be considered a violation of the DMCA anti-DRM stuff, but that is a much more controversial law that many people oppose. A lawsuit over the anti-DRM would likely pull the EFF in, and make large news, while a lawsuit over plain spreading copyrighted information would be much more straightforward and likely for him to lose.

By only publishing the steps, he gets the benefit of the publicity of breaking the encryption. Then anonymous people can easily break it themselves and spread the actual list, free from worry of being sued.