In the 17th century, John Wilkins wrote of his reasons for full disclosure:
If it be feared that this Discourse may unhappily advantage others in such unlawful Courses; ’tis considerable, that it does not only teach how to deceive, but consequently also how to discover Delusions.
but even then he knew there were liability risks that go along with information security research:
...the chiefe experiments are of such nature, that they cannot be frequently practised, without just cause of suspicion, when it is in the Magistrates power to prevent them.
If it be feared that this Discourse may unhappily advantage others in such unlawful Courses; ’tis considerable, that it does not only teach how to deceive, but consequently also how to discover Delusions.
but even then he knew there were liability risks that go along with information security research:
...the chiefe experiments are of such nature, that they cannot be frequently practised, without just cause of suspicion, when it is in the Magistrates power to prevent them.