Elon Musk's Starlink Expands Across White House Complex | Hacker News Reader

Elon Musk's Starlink Expands Across White House Complex

nytimes.com

28 pointszzzeek18 comments

https://bsky.app/profile/waldo.net/post/3lkmo3w3pvk2n

Hi, I'm the guy who used to oversee the federal government's agency IT telecommunications contracts. This is extremely bad. There is absolutely no need for this. Not only is it a huge security exposure, but the simplest explanation for this is that it is meant to be a security exposure.

I mean, I think the simplest explanation is that it's another kickback to Musk, tbh. Donald's Razor: "Never attribute to traitorous malice that which is adequately explained by corrupt malice."

They say it’s been donated. Does that make the simplest explanation more like:

This is a special line for Trump and Musk to feel secure from eavesdropping?

More likely a special line for Musk and Thiel to keep an eye on Trump and anyone at the White House

That would justify the major objection coming from Secret Service, for sure. So we’re left wondering: how did Musk describe this to Trump? Was someone else in the room to offer an alternative, more patriotic view?

Both of those things can be true at the same time.

What possible use could this have for a place that has to have some of the best connectivity on the planet?

What possible use could Trump—who doesn't drive—have for a Tesla?

Easier to exfiltrate data without being noticed?

I'm trying to figure out why would someone need or want to install Starlink in a place that's certainly very well connected with fiber, and the only things I can think off is that it's either a commercial / justification for why they are changing the legislation to allow Starlink to receive tens of billions of government $ to provide internet in rural areas, or some (not so wild anymore) conspiracy theories.

I think it’s good to have redundancy. It reminds me of President Jimmy Carter putting solar panels on the White House.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_at_the_White_House

Am I supposed to believe that the white house doesn't already have two (or more, likely) independent fiber links?

Personal anecdote: A relative of mine has his own business that covers all sorts of IT stuff. He has a starlink running permanently as a backup because a couple of times a year his fiber experiences some downtime.

Sounds like good technology / business practice?

I run two independent (Technology + Provider wise) internet links for our house, as both my SO and myself are permanently working from home.

Do you suppose no one has ever thought of building redundant connectivity to the White House?

I was merely replying to the parent post.

I would be massively irritated if the White House would not have multiple levels of redundancy. Which makes the article just more confusing.

Starlink still seems like an odd choice, since having access to fiber implies 5g is available, too, and the latter costs half as much and is faster/lower-latency. Maybe it makes sense as a backup for the backup, though.

Terrestrial wireless would be faster, more reliable, and less expensive. Near the White House, it could link between multiple other government building and have no recurring expense. Starlink is worse, slower, and more expensive.

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