Russia is using SpaceX’s Starlink satellite devices in Ukraine, sources say::undefined

  • KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    1 year ago

    Russia has operatives worldwide. Just like every other country with any sort of intelligence agency. The idea that they aren’t able to come up with a credit card with a Ukrainian name that looks 100% legitimate to a billing company is farcical.

    Let me just ask you point blank, do you think the CIA could manage to purchase a Starlink, activate it, and use it, without anyone having any idea it was the CIA that did all that? Because if so, it’s just as easy for Russia to do it.

    Hell, I could likely do it.

      • KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        1 year ago

        Really? Let’s see…

        • Purchase a prepaid Visa card from somewhere without cameras, preload it with $1k.
        • Using a library computer, order a Starlink device to a post office, general delivery under a pseudonym.
        • Pick up said order using a fake ID with the pseudonym previously mentioned.

        Congrats! You are now the proud owner of a Starlink dish, under a fake name, with no traceable evidence left behind of who you actually were.

    • rdri@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      The idea that they aren’t able to come up with a credit card with a Ukrainian name that looks 100% legitimate to a billing company is farcical.

      I see you don’t know how credit card numbers work. You may also not be aware of the fact that credit cards aren’t working in Russia for almost 2 years.

      Let me just ask you point blank, do you think the CIA could manage to purchase a Starlink, activate it, and use it, without anyone having any idea it was the CIA that did all that?

      Just one or two is easy to manage. A dozen is much more difficult already, provided Starlink manages some security and has access to metadata (data that ultimately can’t be faked such as location, accounts, device id).

      • KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        1 year ago

        … meaning that one of their many worldwide operatives could just get a credit card. Like, say, in Ukraine.

        You’re focused way too hard on “following the law and doing things by the book” without realizing Russia is more of a “do what it takes.”

        • rdri@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Yeah okay. Let’s say we covered the billing. What about devices id, their origin and location? Those are not purchased through Ukraine and Starlink is ought to know that.

            • rdri@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              They can’t be. Ukraine must have them under full control because they rely on them too much.

              Also it’s much easier to assume that these modules, like any other modern tech these days are bought by Russia through other countries who it still does business with like China, Turkey etc.

                • rdri@lemmy.world
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                  1 year ago

                  Welp, Musk clearly isn’t even interested in exploring the possibility and just calls it fake news. I guess you won the argument by essentially saying “Nobody knows and no one needs to try”.

                  • KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                    1 year ago

                    Not at all my point. My point was that it can be unknowable. And we have no idea if anyone has tried.