SpaceX's Starlink internet poses danger for users in Ukraine because they can't camouflage the 'distinctive' dish that emits radio signals, experts say

Insider has learned that the Starlink satellite internet network poses risks for those using it in Ukraine during the war against Russia.

On February 26, Mykhailo Fedorov, the country's vice prime minister, requested help from the billionaire. Three more batches of terminals have been sent.

Musk has warned Starlink users in Ukraine to use the system with caution because of the threat of Russian troops.

John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto's Munk School, told Insider that there are some features of Starlink that make it different from previous generations of satellite communications technology used in conflicts.

According to experts, Starlink could endanger its users.

Starlink terminals are 'visually distinctive'

To avoid being detected, Musk has advised users to cover the Starlink terminal with light camouflage. He told users to place the antenna as far away from people as possible and to turn the system on only when needed.

This advice isn't enough to protect users.

Scott-Railton said that Starlink terminals are visually distinctive and that Russian troops could consider their users as targets.

Nicholas Weaver, a lecturer in computer science at UC Berkeley, told Insider that Starlink terminals cannot be camouflaged because they need to have an obstructed view of the sky to connect to satellites.

Weaver said that Musk is a fast-talking, third-rate car salesman.

Starlink is 'high-profile'

The user base of Starlink has grown to more than 145,000 users in 25 countries at the start of this year.

Scott-Railton said that the higher the profile of the communications technology and the talk about it, the greater the risk is in using it in a conflict situation.

Scott-Railton said he was pleased that Musk was acknowledging the risks, but that it was important for users to be aware of the risks.

If Russia doesn't care, Starlink is fine. If Russia does care, a Starlink base station should be kept away from anything that could be used to bomb it.

Radio signals are trackable

Scott-Railton said that Starlink emits radio signals, but they can be tracked down.

Any modern military can either triangulate those signals to target them with artillery or airstrikes or use a missile which hones in directly on such signals, according to a senior research scholar at Columbia University.

Weaver explained how easy it would be for Russia to detect signals from Starlink dishes.

If Russia had a suitable electronic warfare plane in the air, they should be able to easily locate and identify the transmitter.