When Bloomberg implicated Apple in The Big Hack, Apple gave way stronger denials. So did Amazon.

> Apple has never found malicious chips, “hardware manipulations” or vulnerabilities purposely planted in any server. Apple never had any contact with the FBI or any other agency about such an incident. We are not aware of any investigation by the FBI, nor are our contacts in law enforcement.

Exactly - Apple never said "we weren't hacked, 100% sure". They said, that all the data they have shows no evidence, plus pointed out some BS in the story.

Interesting that they only mention server. What about their employee devices, networking hardware, and every other internet connected thing? Not saying I buy this theory, but that denial leaves a lot of technically correct room to lie through their teeth.

Thats because the entirety of Bloomberg's nonsense focused on a supposed server. So there wasn't any need to disown employee devices, mobile phones, iot, etc

> That’s the strongest truthful statement any company can give you.

Oh, I agree that no company will ever make a categorical denial of something like this; I just don't think that justifies promoting a lesser denial into a categorical one.