"Additional point of attack": White House directly connected to Starlink
The seat of the US President is now directly connected to Starlink thanks to a "gift". A cyber security expert speaks of an unnecessary risk.
(Image: Hamara/Shutterstock.com)
SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet is now available directly through the infrastructure of the White House and other US government buildings. This is reported by the New York Times, quoting a cybersecurity expert who warns of an additional point of attack. Furthermore, Starlink is actually advertised as a technology to provide fast internet access to hard-to-reach areas – US government buildings are not among them. According to the newspaper article, however, no Starlink terminals were installed at the White House. Instead, the signals were routed via an existing data center and supplemented the existing network infrastructure.
“Why risk it?”
According to the White House, the use of Starlink is intended to provide a remedy in areas of the building complex where mobile phone reception is poor, and Wi-Fi connections are also insufficient. The article does not explain how this is to be achieved by forwarding another signal via existing infrastructure. At the same time, however, it is striking that Elon Musk, a close and influential advisor to US President Donald Trump, is the head of SpaceX. According to the report, other buildings of the General Services Administration, which support other US federal agencies in their administration, have also been equipped with Starlink connections.
Videos by heise
It is “super rare” to use Starlink or other network technology to replace existing infrastructure that has been tested and secured, the US newspaper quotes cybersecurity expert Jake Williams: “I can't remember ever hearing of anything like this.” After all, this would create a new point of attack, “why risk it?” The newspaper also reports an incident in which an employee of SpaceX and the short message service X went to the roof of a building belonging to the White House. He wanted to check the installation of a Starlink terminal there. When he opened the door there, he triggered an alarm, alerting the Secret Service.
According to the White House, the Starlink connection is a “gift”. However, it is unclear exactly how this is supposed to work. It is also unknown whether US government communications flowing via Starlink are protected by encryption. The network is based on more than 7,000 satellites placed in low earth orbit and is primarily intended to connect areas that are difficult or disproportionately expensive to bring online using conventional technology. However, capacities are also limited and in some large cities – not only in the USA – it is no longer possible to buy or commission Starlink antennas. This does not apply in Washington, D.C., however.
(mho)
