Embedded Files
When Eva threatened Anton for leaving the company using the company's code to compete in high frequency trading, Anton prepared a computer that would send a malicious payload to Eva's company's network to delay her network. When Anton was detained by the FBI on the basis of Eva's accusations, Anton used this payload to blackmail Eva into dropping the charges. [1]
What did Anton do?
Anton dials a phone number that is linked to a computer in his cabinet. When the number is dialed, it activates the computer from its sleep. The computer then sends out a phone menu, and Anton dials 1 to send a payload to the network in Torres & Thatcher Corp. This payload slows the latency of the network by 20 milliseconds. The movie does not explicitly say how the payload was sent and activated. There are a number of ways this payload could have accessed the company’s network. Someone could have downloaded the malicious payload through email. Anton could have placed a receiver within the network before he quite the company. Anton could also conduct a botnet attack to slow down the network.
However, what the viewer is certain about is that there is some code that is put in the company's network system that causes this 20 millisecond delay. When Eva discusses this issue with Anton, Anton commented that the company would eventually find the malicious code in 5 or 6 months.
What was the outcome?
The 20 millisecond delay placed Eva's company at a disadvantage among other high-frequency trading firms. Eva ultimately decided to adhere to Anton's requests and dropped the charges against him. To disable the delay, Eva had to dial a phone number and press "3" when the beep was heard. This, however, does not mean that the code is removed from the system. Eva has to actually find the code in the system and get rid of it.
Act Utilitarianism Analysis:
When Anton sent that payload and activated the 20 millisecond delay, one of the stockbrokers in Eva's company mentioned that they were losing millions. Technically, the company is not losing money. They are simply missing the opportunities to earn more money by being slower than other competitors in the industry. However, this is still considered as lost potential money. The parties involved included Eva's company, Anton, Vincent, and high frequency trading competitors.
For the purposes of this analysis, we will consider a $1 million loss every minute. Assuming that it took Eva at least 2 hours to reach Anton and negotiate the deal, Eva's company missed a $120 million opportunity for profits because of this delay.
For Anton and Vincent, this meant that Anton would be released from detainment, and another of the terms that Eva had to agree to was that she could not target Vincent.
For competitors, assuming that they were using the 17 millisecond line, will now be 14 milliseconds ahead of Eva's company. This theoretically means that the $120 million loss for Eva could be distributed among the competitors as gain.
Using Act Utilitarianism, Anton's actions might not really affect society as there is a net zero sum in costs and gains for the different parties. It might even be safe to say that Anton did the right thing as he was able to free himself without costing money to society as a whole.
Rule Utilitarianism Analysis:
Anton essentially blackmailed Eva to free himself from detainment. If all people were to use this method to get out of detainment, society would be in chaos. For Anton's case, high frequency trading is a very competitive industry, and when one firm falls out of the competition, others will quickly fill the gap, which is why the impact on Eva's company was much greater compared to the impact on overall society. However, if this was done to other industries, it might not end as fortunately. The party who benefits are those that are detained, while the ones who might reap the drawbacks are the companies and their customers. This makes Anton's choice wrong.
References
Cover Photo: https://www.usal.edu.lb/faculty-of-arts-sciences/computer-science-department/computer-and-network-security/
[1] Nguyen, Kim. The Hummingbird Project. (Belga Productions and Item 7, 2019). (accessed 9/21/2021).
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