Israeli ad firm targeted Starlink users in suspected spying operation

Experts found that an Israeli ad tech company heavily targeted Starlink satellite internet users in a likely spying effort, according to six sources. The firm, Discover-Tech, was a top bidder for ads aimed at Starlink users across over 100 countries. Researchers at TrendAI, a Trend Micro unit, concluded Discover-Tech's ads were likely used to geolocate or surveil users, citing suspicious bidding patterns suggesting tracking infrastructure. Citizen Lab and Confiant also outed the company, prompting Google and Comcast to remove it from their ad platforms. TrendAI's October 15 report did not name Discover-Tech, using the codename "Shadow-Earth-79" instead, due to legal concerns. Tracking Starlink users has become common as governments seek control over satellite terminals that bypass local internet restrictions, notably in conflict zones like Ukraine.