Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, has warned that the company’s Starlink satellite internet service might be “targeted” in Ukraine, which has been ravaged by Russian aggression.
The warning comes just days after an internet security researcher warned that satellite communications equipment may become “beacons” that Russia could target with warplanes.
Because Starlink is the only non-Russian communications system still operational in some sections of Ukraine, the likelihood of being attacked is considerable. Please proceed with care “Musk sent a tweet.
He advised users to “turn on Starlink only when necessary and install antenna as far away from people as feasible,” as well as to “place light camouflage over antenna to avoid visual detection.”
Musk said last Saturday that Starlink had been enabled in Ukraine and that SpaceX was sending additional terminals to the nation in response to a tweet from a Ukraine government official asking Musk to help the besieged country with Starlink stations.
Ukraine said on Monday that it has received donated Starlink satellite internet terminals, but an internet security analyst cautioned that they may be used by Russia.