I assume that's why dzfo is using a throwaway account and omitting identifying details (if their story is to be taken at face value).
If you're paranoid enough to believe that the most likely explanation of this is cold war state actors and conspiracies, then you should have no trouble believing that said state actor can track a throwaway account on HN.
Well spotted, by the way
f8895720bef037a0705ca561343680b2 is the md5 for "I'm full of shit"