That doesn't actually prove very much. Successes in programming contests may demonstrate you can hack your way around an algorithmic problem that you're solving

That doesn't actually prove very much. Successes in programming contests may demonstrate you can hack your way around an algorithmic problem that you're solving from scratch. Modifying a browser, an operating system and the communication protocols they use to add robust surveillance capabilities demands a different type of skill and resources: proficiency with an entire stack of technologies and knowledge of good engineering practices. This analysis seems to provide some evidence against the latter.