4 ms·

Never understood the motivation for leakers. Are their lives that gray?

dmbche 3y ago
My understanding is that for websites that live on leaking things from manufacturers, the person who leaks gets some of the revenue. I wouldn't be surprised they get people hired to get access to the information. Doubt it's a good way to run a profitable enterprise - but I'm sure some people do
- trzy 3y ago
  I don’t know about that. It’s usually just reporters reaching out asking you to dish in violation of your NDA for nothing in return. When I left Apple TDG, I was contacted by two reporters from well known publications on LinkedIn. I completely ignored both. Quite frankly it’s pretty upsetting that they’re so eager to put people in legal and financial jeopardy to write their stupid columns.
  - dmbche 3y ago
    Wow! I was going from their comments on the leaker being fired after this leak being done - I imagine the site has a roster or something? Or a bounty program kind of thing? Edit: hadn't read the full thing - it's just a guy that shared stuff her sister said to him for internet points - what a loser
  - JohnFen 3y ago
    > I completely ignored both. That's very wise. Here's an illustrative tale, although I'm omitting details that could identify myself or the companies involved. Many years ago when I was still pretty wet behind the ears, I had just completed the sale of my company to another. This was fairly big news at the time, and my phone was ringing off the hook with reporters wanting more details. The details -- especially the sale price -- were confidential, and I was contractually prohibited from discussing them. One particularly devious reporter managed to get me involved in a "friendly" conversation talking generally (and safely) about the the two companies, then when my guard was down, asked me a question that wasn't directly about the sale price -- but my answer did tell him the general magnitude of it, which he reported. It was a huge hairy problem that took weeks to smooth over. It nearly made the deal fall through. I learned to never talk to reporters. Some of them are very, very good at their job.
    - trzy 3y ago
      Yeah these guys are total slime balls. Once they get what they want, their lack of concern for their sources is appalling. Breaking the news to drive eyeballs on their reporting is their 100% priority.
- madeofpalk 3y ago
  My understanding that the more well known sites (such as Cult of Mac, Mac Rumors, 9to5Mac etc) avoid paying for leaks because it creates poor incentives and legal issues.
- JohnFen 3y ago
  > for websites that live on leaking things from manufacturers, the person who leaks gets some of the revenue I have a hard time believing that's common, if for no other reason than because it would open those websites up to legal liability.
nomel 3y ago
"The Psychology of Espionage and Leaking in the Digital Age" https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol-61-no-2/pdfs/why-spy-why-leak.pdf https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intellig...
- robocat 3y ago
  Darn: link comes up blank on Mobile Safari (iPadOS 16.4.1 (a)) in New Zealand.
  - nikp123 3y ago
    Same here in Serbia, I'm guessing this document is being geo restricted via IP.
    - MonaroVXR 3y ago
      Same for the Netherlands
    - nomel 3y ago
      Actually, same for me in California, USA! If I click the google result, it opens properly. If I click the direct link, it doesn't.
- jonbc 3y ago
  Archived version: https://web.archive.org/web/20200716101239/https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol-61-no-2/pdfs/why-spy-why-leak.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20200716101239/https://www.cia.g...
ajross 3y ago
It's just gossip. Same impetus exactly: "I know something special and want to share it" is a basic human motivation. It's only in places like this where shy introverts are the norm that anyone would even ask that question.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
mrtranscendence 3y ago
I'm reminded of another recent incident where Dan Allen, a gaming YouTuber, used the handle TheRealInsider to leak secrets (against NDA). As far as I know he got nothing from it except a bit of minor fame while the persona was active, and wide ridicule when he was found out -- how that's worth enough to risk your reputation and livelihood I can't imagine.
porkbeer 3y ago
Depends on the leak. Some leaks are for the good of mankind, others are just for some internet points. Seldom do they generate a profit unless the leaker is leveraged or in cahoots with someone who is.

My understanding is that for websites that live on leaking things from manufacturers, the person who leaks gets some of the revenue. I wouldn't be surprised they get people hired to get access to the information. Doubt it's a good way to run a profitable enterprise - but I'm sure some people do

trzy 3y ago
I don’t know about that. It’s usually just reporters reaching out asking you to dish in violation of your NDA for nothing in return. When I left Apple TDG, I was contacted by two reporters from well known publications on LinkedIn. I completely ignored both. Quite frankly it’s pretty upsetting that they’re so eager to put people in legal and financial jeopardy to write their stupid columns.
- dmbche 3y ago
  Wow! I was going from their comments on the leaker being fired after this leak being done - I imagine the site has a roster or something? Or a bounty program kind of thing? Edit: hadn't read the full thing - it's just a guy that shared stuff her sister said to him for internet points - what a loser
- JohnFen 3y ago
  > I completely ignored both. That's very wise. Here's an illustrative tale, although I'm omitting details that could identify myself or the companies involved. Many years ago when I was still pretty wet behind the ears, I had just completed the sale of my company to another. This was fairly big news at the time, and my phone was ringing off the hook with reporters wanting more details. The details -- especially the sale price -- were confidential, and I was contractually prohibited from discussing them. One particularly devious reporter managed to get me involved in a "friendly" conversation talking generally (and safely) about the the two companies, then when my guard was down, asked me a question that wasn't directly about the sale price -- but my answer did tell him the general magnitude of it, which he reported. It was a huge hairy problem that took weeks to smooth over. It nearly made the deal fall through. I learned to never talk to reporters. Some of them are very, very good at their job.
  - trzy 3y ago
    Yeah these guys are total slime balls. Once they get what they want, their lack of concern for their sources is appalling. Breaking the news to drive eyeballs on their reporting is their 100% priority.
madeofpalk 3y ago
My understanding that the more well known sites (such as Cult of Mac, Mac Rumors, 9to5Mac etc) avoid paying for leaks because it creates poor incentives and legal issues.
JohnFen 3y ago
> for websites that live on leaking things from manufacturers, the person who leaks gets some of the revenue I have a hard time believing that's common, if for no other reason than because it would open those websites up to legal liability.

nomel 3y ago

"The Psychology of Espionage and Leaking in the Digital Age" https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol-61-no-2/pdfs/why-spy-why-leak.pdf https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intellig...

robocat 3y ago
Darn: link comes up blank on Mobile Safari (iPadOS 16.4.1 (a)) in New Zealand.
- nikp123 3y ago
  Same here in Serbia, I'm guessing this document is being geo restricted via IP.
  - MonaroVXR 3y ago
    Same for the Netherlands
  - nomel 3y ago
    Actually, same for me in California, USA! If I click the google result, it opens properly. If I click the direct link, it doesn't.
jonbc 3y ago
Archived version: https://web.archive.org/web/20200716101239/https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol-61-no-2/pdfs/why-spy-why-leak.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20200716101239/https://www.cia.g...

ajross 3y ago

It's just gossip. Same impetus exactly: "I know something special and want to share it" is a basic human motivation. It's only in places like this where shy introverts are the norm that anyone would even ask that question.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

mrtranscendence 3y ago

I'm reminded of another recent incident where Dan Allen, a gaming YouTuber, used the handle TheRealInsider to leak secrets (against NDA). As far as I know he got nothing from it except a bit of minor fame while the persona was active, and wide ridicule when he was found out -- how that's worth enough to risk your reputation and livelihood I can't imagine.

porkbeer 3y ago

Depends on the leak. Some leaks are for the good of mankind, others are just for some internet points. Seldom do they generate a profit unless the leaker is leveraged or in cahoots with someone who is.