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Because unlike cybercriminals operating out of their home who can't consider a lawsuit because it'd only serve to surface their presence to law enforcement, com

Because unlike cybercriminals operating out of their home who can't consider a lawsuit because it'd only serve to surface their presence to law enforcement, companies can and do sue others on libel and similar grounds, even when there is no merit to the lawsuit. LTT did a video[1] on the same topic showing a few Chinese smart TV boxes with malware. There is no reason to believe the report is illegitimate. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vpepaQ-VQQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vpepaQ-VQQ

cubefox 3y ago
> LTT did a video[1] on the same topic showing a few Chinese smart TV boxes with malware. This is completely irrelevant as it doesn't contradict anything I said. > There is no reason to believe the report is illegitimate. It seems you didn't read the Ars Technica piece.
waboremo 3y ago
Right, and Trend Micro is a very tiny little independent mom and pop business who couldn't withstand a meritless lawsuit. This hypothetical makes absolutely zero sense in reality. If LTT can name and shame, so can Trend Micro. It's that simple.
- supriyo-biswas 3y ago
  Legal typically never approves of any article or statement that has the slightest possibility of resulting in a lawsuit, unless there is a payoff, which in this case simply happens to be satisfying the needs of no-name commenters on HN. But let's walk through the cost-benefit analysis, just in case: The rates for lawyers at well known legal firms is about ~$300, and assume it takes 5 hours (which is a conservative estimate) for them to review the lawsuit and draft a motion to dismiss. A favorable outcome is not guaranteed, given that countries like the UK consider statements as libel even when the statements are true. Still, assuming it takes only ~$1500 and the suit is dismissed afterward, they haven't had any additional income to offset the loss, and the $1500 can easily buy IDA licenses for a team member, which would be a far more productive use of the money. As for LTT, they engage in many behaviors that legal wouldn't approve of. If I interrupted my colleague by saying "that's what she said" every two sentences, I would be fired the next day. LTT does it all the time, and there's nary a complaint (of course, I'm not privy to their internal operations).
  - cubefox 3y ago
    Yes, or Trend Micro just wanted to get in the news with a spectacular sounding report. It would be a lot less interesting if all the affected brands were unknown ones.

cubefox 3y ago

> LTT did a video[1] on the same topic showing a few Chinese smart TV boxes with malware. This is completely irrelevant as it doesn't contradict anything I said. > There is no reason to believe the report is illegitimate. It seems you didn't read the Ars Technica piece.

waboremo 3y ago

Right, and Trend Micro is a very tiny little independent mom and pop business who couldn't withstand a meritless lawsuit. This hypothetical makes absolutely zero sense in reality. If LTT can name and shame, so can Trend Micro. It's that simple.

supriyo-biswas 3y ago
Legal typically never approves of any article or statement that has the slightest possibility of resulting in a lawsuit, unless there is a payoff, which in this case simply happens to be satisfying the needs of no-name commenters on HN. But let's walk through the cost-benefit analysis, just in case: The rates for lawyers at well known legal firms is about ~$300, and assume it takes 5 hours (which is a conservative estimate) for them to review the lawsuit and draft a motion to dismiss. A favorable outcome is not guaranteed, given that countries like the UK consider statements as libel even when the statements are true. Still, assuming it takes only ~$1500 and the suit is dismissed afterward, they haven't had any additional income to offset the loss, and the $1500 can easily buy IDA licenses for a team member, which would be a far more productive use of the money. As for LTT, they engage in many behaviors that legal wouldn't approve of. If I interrupted my colleague by saying "that's what she said" every two sentences, I would be fired the next day. LTT does it all the time, and there's nary a complaint (of course, I'm not privy to their internal operations).
- cubefox 3y ago
  Yes, or Trend Micro just wanted to get in the news with a spectacular sounding report. It would be a lot less interesting if all the affected brands were unknown ones.