Having successfully completed the challenge of hacking a satellite dish connected to Starlink, SpaceX's satellite network, Lennert Wouters has been congratulated (and presented with a large cheque) by billionaire Elon Musk.
© Mike Mareen / Shutterstock
A young Belgian has succeeded in finding a flaw in the security system of SpaceX's vast network of satellites. Called Starlink, this project aims to provide Internet access in the most remote parts of the world thanks to a cloud of 30,000 satellites and parabolic systems broadcasting from the earth.
Lennert Wouters is an industrial engineer who currently works at COSIC, the research group on digital security and cryptography at KU Leuven. Tackling the flaws in the famous billionaire's company hardware was a simple exercise for him as part of his PhD work.
This offensive against Starlink, which started a year ago, is part of the Bug Bounty Program in which hackers receive a reward if they report cybersecurity shortfalls. Using a printed circuit purchased for about twenty euros, Lennert Wouters has just highlighted the weaknesses of this satellite system and has even astounded all the specialists gathered in Las Vegas for a major conference on cyber security.
Elon Musk now knows how to better protect Starlink thanks to a Belgian researcher who has earned himself a great deal of recognition and also a large cheque.
