Schneier on Security

Clive Robinson • October 24, 2025 9:29 AM

@ Bruce, ALL,

With regards,

“There were legal threats—I don’t understand their basis—”

Have you considered they may not have a “legal basis”?

The legal process whilst expensive is has certain advantages in the US one being each side pays their own costs.

This means that very often it’s used in the US on a coercive basis on a “begger your neighbour” process. This is often done where either profit or the time to make a profit is the real consideration.

Thus consider the point you note of,

“This comes [at] an awkward time, as Sanborn is auctioning off the solution.”

Both time and profit can clearly be seen as motives by Sanborn.

But also the fact you are mentioning it at the very least shows it has “publicity value”.

How many other “third parties” will mention it thus giving it publicity thus creating much increased interest in the auction…

It is after all “The Capitalist Way” and in the US Capitalism, extortion, and similar, are the “American Way”.

We may not like it but in the US the only signifier of success is,

“How much money you make in multiples of those seen as lesser individuals.”

So to avoid being seen as a failure or just even average Sanborn or those associated with him need the Action to “Make it Large”.

And I’m sorry that many people will find this offensive, but it’s what many children in the US are taught often from before they can even talk sufficiently to announciate the idea coherently.