Previously, previously, previously, previously: https://hn.algolia.com/?query=The%20hacking%20of%20Starlink%...
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The hacking of Starlink terminals has begun
81–90 of 267 posts
Re: The hacking of Starlink terminals has begun
#82Earlier quoted context omitted.
Hmm... When I read "hundreds of thousands" I assume more than 100,000. Is that incorrect understanding of English?
I think 200 would be technically correct but most people would assume 300+ for 'hundreds'.
I would say that it depends on if the figure is an approximation or a range.
A salary in the hundreds of thousands, or equivalently 'six figures', clearly includes a salary that starts with 1.
But when it's a definite figure which is being approximated I would tend to agree with you.
Re: The hacking of Starlink terminals has begun
#83I'm sure it will never happen but it would be awesome if they would release an 'open' terminal under the same auspices of commercial SDR transceivers. I'm curious if these could be used for very localized doppler radar.
Re: The hacking of Starlink terminals has begun
#84Earlier quoted context omitted.
If a system is designed to not allow that access, and you can compromise that design, it is most definitely a vulnerability.
I'm convinced that it's impossible to prevent anyone that can physically tamper with a system from having full privileges on that system, as a result of physics. The only way to truly protect information is to make use of quantum effects, and we've only just started doing that in labs. Everything else is just making it harder. So, if you make things harder and someone comes along that invests more effort to overcome,…
> can you really call that a vulnerability?
Yes. Just because executing the attack doesn't seem to get you anything particularly valuable doesn't make it "not a vulnerability."
We're not personally insulting it, we're just describing reality.
Re: The hacking of Starlink terminals has begun
#85Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm not too familar with the low-level details of the Starlink network, but in the slides of the talk it's shown that the dish contains a GPS receiver, so isn't it possible that the client tells the satellite its location on first contact?
GPS is the cheap, easy, and more accurate method of finding and determining location. Time sync is also an important part of satellite communication. They could effectively reimplement GPS or an equivalent location tech with their network but why when a high quality positioning solution already exists. They will be continually syncing time and position data for the orbits of satellites and positions of clients. (stat…
There is a paper out there where someone demonstrates that it would take 1.6% of constellation downlink capacity for StarLink to serve as its own GNSS. As you mention, the GPS network is very high quality, and would only make sense in areas where GPS was undeserving or active denial was expected (and StarLink had the capability to avoid jamming).
Edit: I misrecalled. StarLink can provide 10x more precise positioning than GPS.
https://www.telecomstechnews.com/news/2020/sep/28/starlink-s...
Re: The hacking of Starlink terminals has begun
#86I see a lot of articles that quote the cost for hacking a product or service. I feel like these type of titles undermine the effort that took place. Surely the lab Wouters used had tools and processes that aren't cheap, nor would you consider his expertise inexpensive. I'm not impressed by a PCB board being cheap. Does anyone else feel this way about similar headlines?
"Twitter hack compromising 5.4 million accounts accomplished using $12 keyboard"
Re: The hacking of Starlink terminals has begun
#87Relevant presentation on DEFCON Media server: https://media.defcon.org/DEF%20CON%2030/DEF%20CON%2030%20pre... https://media.defcon.org/DEF%20CON%2030/DEF%20CON%2030%20pre...
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Realistically, I think it's funded in large parts by U.S. government grants to provide affordable internet to rural areas.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/07/spacex-starlink-wins-nearly-...
Of course though, I'm not sure what the status on that is today. Looks like they may not be able to ride that train anymore:
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-rejects-broadband-subsid...
Re: The hacking of Starlink terminals has begun
#88I'm sure it will never happen but it would be awesome if they would release an 'open' terminal under the same auspices of commercial SDR transceivers. I'm curious if these could be used for very localized doppler radar.
You can build a simple Doppler radar yourself today using a couple of SDRs, but sophisticated phased arrays are the kind of thing that makes for pretty good military equipment. I doubt an open one will come on the market (legally) soon.
Re: The hacking of Starlink terminals has begun
#89Relevant presentation on DEFCON Media server: https://media.defcon.org/DEF%20CON%2030/DEF%20CON%2030%20pre... https://media.defcon.org/DEF%20CON%2030/DEF%20CON%2030%20pre...
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> On the bright side, this means free internet outdoors in many remote parts of the world will be possible and funded by loyal Elon Musk fans ;)
I don’t believe they are that stupid as to delegate access control to the client.
Re: The hacking of Starlink terminals has begun
#90Earlier quoted context omitted.
GPS is the cheap, easy, and more accurate method of finding and determining location. Time sync is also an important part of satellite communication. They could effectively reimplement GPS or an equivalent location tech with their network but why when a high quality positioning solution already exists. They will be continually syncing time and position data for the orbits of satellites and positions of clients. (stat…
There is a paper out there where someone demonstrates that it would take 1.6% of constellation downlink capacity for StarLink to serve as its own GNSS. As you mention, the GPS network is very high quality, and would only make sense in areas where GPS was undeserving or active denial was expected (and StarLink had the capability to avoid jamming). Edit: I misrecalled. StarLink can provide 10x more precise positioning…
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