I don’t have an explanation. I do not even vaguely resemble a computer/internet expert.
I do know that the least likely explanation is a conspiracy involving hundreds or thousand of people. Such a conspiracy is unlikely, not because people aren’t wicked enough, but because three people can keep a secret if two of them are dead. Hundreds or thousands of people (including, for some obscure reason, the United Way?!), not so much.
I used to make the same argument. Then global warming busted wide open. . Now the razor is “they are lying”.