Discover-Tech accused of tracking Starlink users through online ads
Original title: Israeli Ad Tech Firm Accused on Using Online Ads to Track Starlink Users
TrendAI found one bidder dominating sampled Starlink ad auctions in 105 countries; the work does not show infection or a Starlink breach.
Reuters sources said Trend Micro unit TrendAI’s SHADOW-EARTH-79 research refers to Israeli ad firm Discover-Tech, which TrendAI’s October 15 report did not name. Researchers tied unusually heavy real-time-bidding activity on Starlink network AS14593 to collection of IPs, advertising IDs and sometimes location data. The pattern was strongest in several conflict-affected countries. Google and Comcast removed the firm from ad platforms; SpaceX and Discover-Tech did not comment.
Unconfirmed: Discover-Tech’s identity comes from Reuters sources, the figures cover one buying platform’s sample, and tracking or infection of every exposed user is not established.
- The bidder led observed Starlink advertising traffic in 105 countries.
- It received 12.9% of sampled Starlink impressions versus 2.6% of overall traffic.
- It ranked first among observed buyers in Syria, Libya, Yemen and South Sudan.
- Citizen Lab and Confiant separately named Discover-Tech on October 15.
- Seeing its ad does not prove a device was infected, the report says.
Impact: Possible profiling of Starlink users from ad-auction device data
- 1.Restrict advertising traffic on sensitive devices and disable ad personalization.
- 2.Use controls that block data sent to ad systems, not tools that only hide ads.
From the original article
3 min read at cybersecuritynews.com
Israeli advertising company Discover-Tech is accused of using online ads to track people connected to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service. Reuters reported on October 27 that six people familiar with the research said TrendAI researchers linked the company to unusually heavy advertising activity aimed at Starlink users. The findings raise concerns about how routine advertising […]
By Guru Baran · cybersecuritynews.com
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