Israeli ad-tech company spies on Starlink users around the world, with a focus on Africa and the Middle East Israeli ad-tech company Discover-Tech has been exposed as aggressively targeting Starlink users in more than 100 countries, in what appears to be an effort to spy on them, reports Reuters. Discover-Tech was the highest bidder for online traffic of Starlink users in more than 100 countries, including some where Starlink is prohibited or restricted. The bidding process is an online auction where advertisers compete to show ads on people's browsers and apps. The Israeli company allegedly abused the digital advertisement bidding system, which can reveal the data of Internet users to advertisers. Allegedly, the Israeli company collected this data to identify and locate users, track their online activity, and in some cases target them with tracking software. The Israeli ads appeared on dozens of sensitive networks belonging to media organizations, government agencies and technology companies. The geographic focus of Discover-Techs activity is equally noteworthy. Its activities are mainly concentrated in countries experiencing armed conflicts or political tensions, including in countries where Israel or its allies are involved, openly or covertly. These include Syria, Yemen, Israel, Egypt, Libya, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Hungary, Azerbaijan, and Venezuela. In May, Haaretz reported that Israeli-owned companies offer customers ways to identify and track Starlink users, using data collected through online ads as a key tool. TrendAI, Azrah Lab and Moyos have eliminated the suspicious practice of the Israeli companies. Google, Comcast and other companies reportedly removed Discover-Tech from their advertising platforms following the disclosure. This is not the first time that Israeli companies use digital tools to spy on users. A few years ago, the Israeli cyber intelligence company NSO Group was investigated for using its Pegasus software for global espionage.

Israeli ad-tech company spies on Starlink users around the world, with a focus on Africa and the Middle East Israeli ad-tech company Discover-Tech has been exposed as aggressively targeting Starlink users in more than 100 countries, in what appears to be an effort to spy on them, reports Reuters. Discover-Tech was the highest bidder for online traffic of Starlink users in more than 100 countries, including some where Starlink is prohibited or restricted. The bidding process is an online auction where advertisers compete to show ads on people's browsers and apps. The Israeli company allegedly abused the digital advertisement bidding system, which can reveal the data of Internet users to advertisers. Allegedly, the Israeli company collected this data to identify and locate users, track their online activity, and in some cases target them with tracking software. The Israeli ads appeared on dozens of sensitive networks belonging to media organizations, government agencies and technology companies. The geographic focus of Discover-Techs activity is equally noteworthy. Its activities are mainly concentrated in countries experiencing armed conflicts or political tensions, including in countries where Israel or its allies are involved, openly or covertly. These include Syria, Yemen, Israel, Egypt, Libya, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Hungary, Azerbaijan, and Venezuela. In May, Haaretz reported that Israeli-owned companies offer customers ways to identify and track Starlink users, using data collected through online ads as a key tool. TrendAI, Azrah Lab and Moyos have eliminated the suspicious practice of the Israeli companies. Google, Comcast and other companies reportedly removed Discover-Tech from their advertising platforms following the disclosure. This is not the first time that Israeli companies use digital tools to spy on users. A few years ago, the Israeli cyber intelligence company NSO Group was investigated for using its Pegasus software for global espionage.