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A network smuggling Starlink tech into Iran to beat internet blackout

bbc.com

31–40 of 177 posts

Re: A network smuggling Starlink tech into Iran to beat internet blackout

#31
post #4
post #2

I suspect the Internet blackout in Iran is not actually related to its citizens - it isn't about silencing its citizens. It is to prevent hacking and tracking by US and Israel of what is going on over there, it is defensive since it has been shown that Iran's connected infrastructure is thoroughly compromised.

It’s 100% to prevent citizens from becoming organized. The regime is most fearful of this.

How did people organize pre-Internet times though?

Re: A network smuggling Starlink tech into Iran to beat internet blackout

#32
post #2

I suspect the Internet blackout in Iran is not actually related to its citizens - it isn't about silencing its citizens. It is to prevent hacking and tracking by US and Israel of what is going on over there, it is defensive since it has been shown that Iran's connected infrastructure is thoroughly compromised.

It’s defensive indeed! It’s defense against the people whom the regime is most afraid of!

Re: A network smuggling Starlink tech into Iran to beat internet blackout

#33
post #22
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s the death penalty for anyone caught with one.

Per the article, it's seemingly not? >Last year, the Iranian government passed legislation that made using, buying or selling Starlink devices punishable by up to two years in prison. The jail term for distributing or importing more than 10 devices can be up to 10 years.

Yeah but then Hesam died [1] ... yesterday in jail before having a trial. He was 40, wasn't an activist and had two daughters.

EDIT: To provide more context: Let's say that "John" is arrested for having had "illegal internet access" (not even owning a starlink). Even if he has a trial, the prosecutor can, and will, argue that he could have used his a secure channel to collaborate with the Mossad and CIA. If they find any unfavorable social media posts on his phone (and believe me, they will) they will say that he has endangered the national security by encouraging unrest and violent protests. This would then amount to waging war against God and death penalty.

If his phone is so clean that they don't find anything, it must be the fact that he is an agent, a mercenary. They will torture him until he confesses to having collaborated with Mossad. They will then air a forced confession on TV.

John might get lucky and have a caring family member from IRGC. In that case you might be right, he will only receive a prison sentence. If he had had a higher ranking IRGC family member he could even go further and start selling his starlink VPN for around $5 / GB. It's not even a hypothetical situation, I had to buy one of these (and it indeed was a starlink connection) four weeks ago ...

[1] https://x.com/indypersian/status/2050088043118211341

Re: A network smuggling Starlink tech into Iran to beat internet blackout

#35
post #4
post #2

I suspect the Internet blackout in Iran is not actually related to its citizens - it isn't about silencing its citizens. It is to prevent hacking and tracking by US and Israel of what is going on over there, it is defensive since it has been shown that Iran's connected infrastructure is thoroughly compromised.

It’s 100% to prevent citizens from becoming organized. The regime is most fearful of this.

which is the exact same reason China bans Starlink.

Re: A network smuggling Starlink tech into Iran to beat internet blackout

#36

I learned from a BSides presentation that Ukranian military are using Starlink trancievers placed in pits to beat ground-based signal detection. Do with that what you will.

Wouldn't they be easily detected from airborne drones?

No, because the collimating effect on the beam would still require you to have line of sight to the emitter, and if a drone is able to get that close without being intercepted then something else has already gone wrong.

But this is also an example of weird absolutist thinking about military tactics: is it unbeatable? No. Does it complicate the surveillance and detection picture? Yes.

Re: A network smuggling Starlink tech into Iran to beat internet blackout

#37
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

It's not an Arab country at all . Iranians are Persian, not Arab. Iran is low-key at war with most of the gulf Arab states.

And no where in any of my statements did I call it an Arab country. I was just calling out hypocrisy of the west when realistically Iran regime is as good or bad as any of the Arab countries or even the untouchable Israel.

Re: A network smuggling Starlink tech into Iran to beat internet blackout

#40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don’t know why you’re getting downvoted for pointing out the obvious: yes obviously the US and Israel will exploit the information system of their enemy if they can, and it’s absolutely rational to deny them the opportunity to do so.

Should internet and outside access be cut for people of Gaza and Lebanon too? Aren’t they targeted by Israel as well?

The government of Lebanon is cooperating with Israel - it's only the southerners/Hezbollah in conflict, at least for now. The people of Gaza are cut off for the most part. The strict censorship inside Israel is what you should compare to - not as strict as a total access ban, but if you say the wrong things or take pictures of the wrong stuff you're going to prison.
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