Starlink guest Wi-fi in the White House without security checks

Visitors to the White House can access the Internet via Elon Musk's guest Wi-fi – without any authentication or logging of connection data, as is normally the case with Internet access in the White House. This is probably only the most serious of several security flaws in Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet service, which has also been in use at several US government sites since March. The full extent of the problem is now becoming known.

White House telecommunications officials have now contacted the Washington Post (WP) anonymously to discuss the situation. Normally, private smartphones could only surf in guest Wi-fis with their username and password, of course, only after a detailed approval process and with appropriate security software. Access would also have to be renewed on a weekly basis and traffic would be recorded. Connections outside the White House could only be established via a VPN tunnel. The rules for Internet use in the White House are among the strictest in the country. Actually "Starlink requires nothing of the sort", clarifies one of the WP contacts. The technology allows data to be transmitted without any recording or tracking. This is also because there is no need for a VPN tunnel. "Starlink makes it possible to bypass the security precautions," WP quotes its source.

Problem is known – but no reaction

Democrat MPs who are members of the White House Oversight Committee – an oversight body of the White House – have already been informed about the situation. They had also contacted the Trump administration about this, but had not received a response to date. Stephen F. Lynch, who leads the Democratic group on the committee, told WP. Courageous whistleblowers had brought explosive information to the group and an investigation was underway.

The situation may have "the potential to undermine our national security", he says. No wonder, given that the White House is something like the heart of the US government. Due to the numerous and varied tasks that the members perform here, they also have more freedom regarding their smartphones – This would be unthinkable for US intelligence services, for example, writes the WP.

DOGE employees use Starlink

Starlink is also used at other government locations; the WP cites a whistleblower who drew attention to the use of the technology at the National Labor Relations Board. The authority is responsible for enforcing labor rights. A former employee of the General Services Administration (GSA) told the newspaper that members of Elon Musk's cost-cutting agency DOGE used Starlink there last month – again without any sign-off or tracking. The GSA is responsible for providing the US government with offices and office supplies, telecommunications equipment and transportation capacity.

Starlink is actually intended to provide a fast internet connection in areas that are difficult to access. Locally installed antennas communicate with a network of around 7000 Starlink satellites orbiting the earth. Cybersecurity experts reacted with corresponding skepticism in March when Musk presented his technology as a "gift" to the White House. After all, the White House and other government sites are usually well-connected to the internet and also require numerous security precautions.

However, the arguments were not enough to prevent employees of close Trump confidant Musk from installing Starlink technology in US government buildings. They are also said to have been on the roof of the White House to install an antenna, but this triggered an alarm from the Secret Service – It is not known whether the antenna is still there today.

(nen)