Why Elon Musk Just Issued A Warning About Using Starlink

Satellite signals can be used to target people and places in wartime, and if the Russian army catches on, the users of Starlink satellites could be in danger. Assuming that the enemy is able to track down the Starlink satellite dish, it definitely puts a target on the back of the person that set up the device. Unfortunately, this is true even in cases where the these connectivity devices are used for personal reasons and not by the Ukrainian military forces. If Russia’s aim is to cut Ukrainian communication as much as possible, Starlink equipment will be a prime target.

Musk himself stated on Twitter that the “probability of being targeted is high” and advised Starlink users in Ukraine to proceed with caution. He then went on to elaborate that almost all Viasat user terminals in Ukraine have been destroyed by a Russian cyberattack on the first day of the war, so Starlink could meet the same fate. While a cyberattack wouldn’t necessarily directly endanger the owners of a Starlink dish, it would still cut what might be a Ukranian citizen’s last line of communication with the outside world. 

In order to stay secure, Musk advised Starlink owners in Ukraine to only use their device when absolutely necessary and to place the antenna as far away from public view as possible.