Israeli Ad Firm Accused of Spying on Starlink Users
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
An Israeli advertising company, Discover-Tech, is suspected of using ads targeted at Starlink internet users for geolocation and tracking, according to a Trend Micro report. The firm was a top bidder for ad space globally, including in conflict zones and sanctioned countries. This follows previous reports of Discover-Tech exploiting ad bidding systems to potentially leak user data, prompting internal investigations by some organizations.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli firm Discover-Tech allegedly used ads to track Starlink users globally.
- Researchers suspect ads were for geolocation and tracking purposes.
- Discover-Tech was a leading bidder for Starlink user ad space in over 100 countries.
- The firm was a major buyer of ads in conflict zones like Syria and Libya.
- Previous reports exposed Discover-Tech for exploiting ad systems for data leaks.
- Some organizations are investigating if their employees were targeted.
An Israeli digital advertising agency, Discover-Tech, has been identified as a major source of online ads targeted at users of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service, with researchers suspecting the ads were used for geolocation and tracking. This finding comes from a report by TrendAI, a division of Japanese cybersecurity firm Trend Micro, based on data from six individuals familiar with the matter. TrendAI's investigation revealed that Discover-Tech became a leading bidder for ad space aimed at Starlink users globally, securing the top position for ads targeting Starlink traffic in over 100 countries, including some where the service is restricted or banned.
The TrendAI report, which did not name Discover-Tech directly but referred to the entity as "Shadow-Earth-79," detailed how the firm aggressively purchased ad space. Discover-Tech was the largest buyer of ads targeting users in Syria, Libya, Yemen, and South Sudan, and ranked second in Afghanistan. This occurred despite a reported near-zero demand for legitimate Western advertising in these conflict-ridden and sanctioned nations. The firm also held an "unreasonably dominant share" of bids in countries like Hungary, Israel, Egypt, Azerbaijan, and Venezuela.
This activity is part of a broader trend where entities attempt to track Starlink users, whose satellite-based internet can bypass local regulations and provide connectivity in remote or hostile areas. Starlink has become particularly crucial for Ukraine's military communications. Earlier in the month, researchers from Canada's Citizen Lab and New York-based ad tech firm Confiant had also exposed Discover-Tech for allegedly exploiting ad bidding mechanisms that could leak user information back to bidders.
Following these revelations, at least one major American technology company and an international organization have reportedly launched internal investigations to determine if their employees were targeted by Discover-Tech's advertisements.
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