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Discover-Tech accused of targeting Starlink users for surveillance
Researchers at TrendAI, a division of the Tokyo-based cybersecurity firm Trend Micro, have concluded that the Israeli advertising technology company Discover-Tech has been heavily targeting SpaceX’s Starlink users. The findings suggest that digital advertising auctions were likely exploited to geolocate or surveil users across more than 100 countries.
TrendAI’s report, released on October 15, used the codename ‘Shadow-Earth-79’ to refer to the entity. The researchers identified Discover-Tech as the top bidder for Starlink-related advertising traffic in over 100 countries, including regions where the satellite service is banned or restricted. High bidding activity was specifically noted in markets such as Syria, Libya, Yemen, South Sudan, and Afghanistan, where conventional commercial advertising demand is typically low.
The suspected operation leverages real-time bidding (RTB) systems, which can expose technical data such as IP addresses, device characteristics, and approximate geographic locations. Separate investigations by Citizen Lab and Confiant have previously linked Discover-Tech to the distribution of spyware, including Candiru, which has targeted journalists and institutional networks.
SpaceX and Discover-Tech have not responded to requests for comment. TrendAI stated that its decision to use a codename was intended to avoid ‘hype-driven labels’ and reduce the risk of misattribution.
Entities
Discover-Tech · SpaceX · Starlink · Trend Micro · TrendAI
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 5 SOURCES] Discover-Tech and SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment. cybernoz.com · www.ogunhaber.com · insidebusiness.ng · srnnews.com · n1info.hr
- [● 9 SOURCES] The digital ads were likely used to geolocate or surveil Starlink users. cybernoz.com · www.ogunhaber.com · french.almanar.com.lb · insidebusiness.ng · srnnews.com · +4 more
- [● 25 SOURCES] TrendAI researchers identified Discover-Tech as a major source of digital ads for Starlink users. cybernoz.com · www.ogunhaber.com · french.almanar.com.lb · insidebusiness.ng · srnnews.com · +20 more
- [● 24 SOURCES] Discover-Tech was the top bidder for Starlink traffic in more than 100 countries. cybernoz.com · www.ogunhaber.com · french.almanar.com.lb · insidebusiness.ng · srnnews.com · +19 more
- [● 16 SOURCES] TrendAI released its report on October 15. cybernoz.com · www.ogunhaber.com · french.almanar.com.lb · insidebusiness.ng · srnnews.com · +11 more
- [● 22 SOURCES] TrendAI used the codename ‘Shadow-Earth-79’ for Discover-Tech in its report. cybernoz.com · insidebusiness.ng · srnnews.com · www.oslobodjenje.ba · apokalypsnu.com · +17 more
- [● 24 SOURCES] The ads were likely used to geolocate or surveil Starlink users. cybernoz.com · www.ogunhaber.com · french.almanar.com.lb · insidebusiness.ng · srnnews.com · +19 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] TrendAI's attribution approach aims to reduce the risk of mistakes and avoid ‘hype-driven labels’. cybernoz.com · insidebusiness.ng · srnnews.com
- [● 9 SOURCES] TrendAI researchers concluded Discover-Tech was a major source of digital ads for Starlink users. cybernoz.com · www.ogunhaber.com · french.almanar.com.lb · insidebusiness.ng · srnnews.com · +4 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] At least one large US tech company and one international organization are checking if ads reached their staff. ppc.land
- [● 5 SOURCES] TrendAI used the codename ‘Shadow-Earth-79’ for Discover-Tech in its October 15 report. cybernoz.com · insidebusiness.ng · srnnews.com · n1info.hr · www.oslobodjenje.ba
- [● 11 SOURCES] SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment. cybernoz.com · www.ogunhaber.com · insidebusiness.ng · srnnews.com · de-rt.com · +6 more