A leaker claims Apple launched a “multi-step sting” operation to uncover their source, causing leaker and source to go dark.
Analyst941 was a leaker that uncovered and disclosed a number of features and releases that no one else had ferreted out. WPN has previously quoted the leaker. Analyst941 posted a message on MacRumors forums to say goodbye and provide some details on what happened.
As pointed out by 9to5Mac, Analyst941 had mentioned in Twitter posts that they were receiving their information from a sibling that worked at Apple, even going so far as to disclose that their sibling worked with Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior VP of software engineering.
Analyst941 had accurately predicted that Apple would release Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for the iPad, but had pegged the release dates as 2024 and 2025. Evidently, Apple had given each person it suspected of being the source of the leaks a different date combination in an effort to expose them, according to Analyst941’s forum post:
The breaking point was multiple, if not almost all who knew about FCP/Logic iPad development was given a unique combination of release dates — unfortunately the combination I shared on Twitter matched the combination given to my sister as the FCP+Logic timeframe, along with other small factors.
The leaker said their relationship with their sister is now ruined after Apple fired her, with the company likely pursuing legal action against both of them:
I don’t want to share too many details right now because of the legality of things — but a multi-step sting has gotten my sister fired from Apple, and unfortunately I am afraid next is legal action being taken against both of us, separately.
I can’t believe I did this, I’m so sorry to my sister and Apple as a whole. I don’t know what else to say. I know she is destroyed, she also hates me right now, like I don’t even know that I have a sister anymore.
Ultimately, the leaker advises others in their shoes to never share details about their sources, a lesson journalists and reporters have known all along:
I enjoyed the ride, to any body out there who gets a source, keep the details at a minimum. It could be costly.
