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> I do wonder if ransomware is (in a strange way) a(n illegal) free-market response to what is perceived to be an under-valuation of tech skills - aggrieved peo

by JackFr 5y ago

> I do wonder if ransomware is (in a strange way) a(n illegal) free-market response to what is perceived to be an under-valuation of tech skills - aggrieved people who can carry out attacks and gain access to deploy ransomware are likely to be able to earn more through this route, even factoring in their "risk of being caught". Sure. In the same way the mugging people is a response to undervaluing “beating the crap out of people and taking their money” skills.

at-fates-hands 5y ago
Its been said before: "When the system fails you, you create your own system." Which relates to what you're saying. When clever, intelligent people are ostracized and marginalized, they then use those skills to get illegally what society has prevented them from getting legally. At some point, the idea of getting caught doesn't even register anymore.
- JKCalhoun 5y ago
  Were these people ostracized and marginalized? If we just paid engineers more would this type of crime disappear? Or is greed, ego, arrogance also a part of their actions?
  - at-fates-hands 5y ago
    >> Were these people ostracized and marginalized? We probably will never know. A lot of hackers turn to hacking because of various reasons - some ideological, others because they felt they didn't fit in anywhere else. >> If we just paid engineers more would this type of crime disappear? Probably not. You cannot get rid of one type of crime by simply paying people NOT to do it. It is what is - at no time in human history has any civilization had zero crime. That's regardless of punishments and financial incentives. >> Or is greed, ego, arrogance also a part of their actions? I think its different things at different times. When I was hacking, it was arrogance, thinking I was smarter than others and trying to prove it. That leads to thinking you are beyond law enforcement when you get away with it (ego). If you're into it solely for financial gain, then the other two feed your greed. Get one nice payout for your ransomware and now you think its easy to do and you'll never be caught - increasing your greed to get more. They all kind of play into each other: arrogance: "I'll never get caught." ego: "They'll never catch me, my ops sec is too good for law enforcement." greed: "This was too easy, next time I'll target a bigger company for a bigger payout."
- djrogers 5y ago
  > When clever, intelligent people are ostracized and marginalized, they then use those skills to get illegally what society has prevented them from getting legally Ehh, maybe. Or maybe they’re just bored sociopaths who get thrills looking for a big score.

by JackFr 5y ago

at-fates-hands 5y ago

Its been said before: "When the system fails you, you create your own system." Which relates to what you're saying. When clever, intelligent people are ostracized and marginalized, they then use those skills to get illegally what society has prevented them from getting legally. At some point, the idea of getting caught doesn't even register anymore.

JKCalhoun 5y ago
Were these people ostracized and marginalized? If we just paid engineers more would this type of crime disappear? Or is greed, ego, arrogance also a part of their actions?
- at-fates-hands 5y ago
  >> Were these people ostracized and marginalized? We probably will never know. A lot of hackers turn to hacking because of various reasons - some ideological, others because they felt they didn't fit in anywhere else. >> If we just paid engineers more would this type of crime disappear? Probably not. You cannot get rid of one type of crime by simply paying people NOT to do it. It is what is - at no time in human history has any civilization had zero crime. That's regardless of punishments and financial incentives. >> Or is greed, ego, arrogance also a part of their actions? I think its different things at different times. When I was hacking, it was arrogance, thinking I was smarter than others and trying to prove it. That leads to thinking you are beyond law enforcement when you get away with it (ego). If you're into it solely for financial gain, then the other two feed your greed. Get one nice payout for your ransomware and now you think its easy to do and you'll never be caught - increasing your greed to get more. They all kind of play into each other: arrogance: "I'll never get caught." ego: "They'll never catch me, my ops sec is too good for law enforcement." greed: "This was too easy, next time I'll target a bigger company for a bigger payout."
djrogers 5y ago
> When clever, intelligent people are ostracized and marginalized, they then use those skills to get illegally what society has prevented them from getting legally Ehh, maybe. Or maybe they’re just bored sociopaths who get thrills looking for a big score.