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Perks & Paintball For Employees At Cybercrime, Inc.
Barence writes "Innovative Marketing Ukraine was in the business of churning out some of the world's most pernicious, and profitable, computer viruses. As the company grew, it added a human resources department, hired an internal IT staff and built a call center to dissuade its victims from seeking credit card refunds. Employees were treated to catered holiday parties and picnics with paintball competitions. Top performers got bonuses as young workers turned a blind eye to the harm the software was doing. 'When you are just 20, you don't think a lot about ethics,' said one former Innovative Marketing programmer. 'I had a good salary and I know that most employees also had pretty good salaries.' The firm has been closed down after the US Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit seeking its disbandment in the federal court. But an examination of the FTC's complaint and documents from a legal dispute among Innovative executives offers a rare glimpse into a dark, expanding — and highly profitable — corner of the internet."
The human brain is quite remarkable in its ability to justify its own actions to itself. "Group think" plays its part in situations like this, "all the other guys are doing it so it must be ok". How somebody responds to authority can also be important. "My boss said it's perfectly legal". And finally you may have the "Lets give Henry Kissenger the Nobel Peace Prize" type of meme coming in from families or friends. "You are really good to you sick mother you're a very nice person". With enough reinforment in various forms you can get people to do pretty much anything