I always think about this too (with people that decide to resort to this sort of activity..and any criminal activity in general).

The difference: you have full control over your destiny, power that you don't have to spend a decade earning..you just take it, and you don't have ask for permission.

There's also a thrill to it. Something you really don't get from a boring desk job..even for the likes of google and Facebook.

It's very similar to those amateur pedo-busting groups on Youtube. Why not just become a detective? Because you then have to go through all kinds of red tape and answer to an asshole boss when things go wrong.

Instead, you can play super hero for views and subscription numbers.

Good point!

I mean the thrill greatly outweighs the monetary reward of this type of activity.

But can he reverse a linked list?

I busted out loud at this one.

For us non-FANG ppl, what does L5-L8 mean? Are those cybersec job role classifications?

I think https://www.levels.fyi/ gives these classifications.

Here is Google's career ladder for software engineers: https://codingrelic.geekhold.com/2018/08/google-software-eng...

Your typical engineer with relevant education and 5 years of experience is probably about L4/5.

Even if he did get in, it seems unlikely that he'd be able progress beyond L5, after which leadership becomes more important.

I think the OP refers to Level 5 to Level 8 but I don't know what they mean either.

He was making $10k / month cash for one botnet client alone. Factoring in CA taxes that's $16k+ he'd have to be paid at a regular job. He was making a lot more money than that from renting it to others and other undisclosed hacks. Besides, it's not just the money.

L5 at Google makes something like $29k/month according to https://www.levels.fyi/

For context L5s make 33k/mo before taxes. L7s ~66k. L8s are easily in the ~80k+ territory. The bands also get MUCH wider in L6+ land with lots of overlap.

> Daniel Kaye, also known as Spdrman, found regular jobs tough but corporate espionage easy.

Possibly, but it sounds like he was just not wired for a straight job.

For certain people, making money illegally is more fun than making it legally, even in spite of the risk.

Because of the risk.

And deal with all the organizational politics?

> simply being L5-L8

The article says he applied to many companies, and they all turned him down because he was too suspicious.