I'm very worried about the Starlink support that Apple implemented "in secret" on iOS devices and have blocked all new updates.
Will there be a way to 100% opt out of Starlink in the future or do I need to get a new phone? I don't want Elon Putin Musk having the slightest theoretical opportunity of accessing my device
Apple didn’t implement anything “in secret”.
Let’s get this straight once and for all. Apple is including the ability to make calls via satellite into iOS. This is a standards based protocol.
Apple is NOT partnering with Starlink. The carriers are free to partner with whatever satellite service providers they like.
So far, T-Mobile is the only carrier that’s implemented this in ANY way. it is currently in beta. T-Mobile has chosen Starlink as their satellite partner. If you don’t like it, don’t use T-Mobile or don’t join their beta program.
Even if you do opt into the service it does NOT give Starlink or Elon Musk access to your phone. Just as using AT&T or Verizon for cellular service does not give them access to your phone. The service provider, whether it’s cellular, satellite, or WiFi carries the traffic and routes it from one place to another. That’s all.
Please stop it with the ridiculous paranoia.
This functionality is going to be included in pretty much every smart phone in the near future, whether it’s an iPhone, Android device, or something else.
norwegian_user_with_iphone wrote:
Then why does it require an iOS 18.3 update? Something is being installed. If it needs to go via a T-mobile network to work, fine..I don't have to worry, but then what's the point?
Because it requires software T-Mobile needs to permit a user to connect to Starlink through T-Mobile. Again, you are worrying yourself over something, that if you aren't a customer of T-Mobile, simply you won't have access to.
Since nobody was able to give an answer, the answer seems to be that you get a new selection in the same list as Bluetooth, cellular data etc called «Satellite». So there will be no automatic handover like the articles gave an impression of . Or maybe that will be the case for T-Mobile users.
I can’t tell from the screenshots if you can turn it completely off , tho. It might only show for t-mobile customers YET. But ofc this will probably be rolled out to unsuspecting carriers all over the world within a year or so.
But if the goal with the Starlink support is to be able to use it when there's no mobile network coverage, how can I be sure it can't connect to Starlink even though my carrier/operator doesn't support it?
So it's technically just an OTA setting on the mobile phone from the carrier, and you have to have a subscription, but what's the actual technical barrier? I want to be able to disable it completely. like uninstall all support.
Dunning–Kruger effect. The less you know, the smarter you think you are, until you encounter the imposter syndrome.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
https://youtu.be/4FGnb2lgPBA?si=jBaI_WSJLTVdgRYc
Thank you for this detailed answer. So the enabling is controlled by Apple depending on agreements with the carrier. And since starlink acts as a base station if you don’t have coverage (as they say on the website), starlink could choose not to verify a subscription. So the trust here is basically on Apple OTA alone, right? Or is there a SIM card check before connecting also?
I understand that. But let’s say I’m a T-Mobile subscriber with beta and everything. And I’m somewhere in the desert without coverage. Where is the check performed if I have a subscription before connecting? If it’s on the SIM card, or eSIM, at least there’s an extra security apart from just some setting
That’s good to know. If I have control like how wifi works, and it doesn’t work like with mobile roaming, I’m not worried. Otherwise Starlink could basically operate like a rogue base station.
I’d love to use other satellite providers that my carrier might partner with in the future, but preferably if prompted first or with an opt-in.
norwegian_user_with_iphone wrote:
That’s good to know. If I have control like how wifi works, and it doesn’t work like with mobile roaming, I’m not worried. Otherwise Starlink could basically operate like a rogue base station.
I’d love to use other satellite providers that my carrier might partner with in the future, but preferably if prompted first or with an opt-in.
Believe me, you will have to ‘opt in’… That service is absolutely not going to be free.
norwegian_user_with_iphone wrote:
Otherwise Starlink could basically operate like a rogue base station.
No, really, it can't. You're making up hypotheticals.
How do I prevent the car that Musk launched into orbit from crashing down on my house? Will his job with the federal government prevent me from suing him if it does?
When you live close to the russian border it’s absolutely not hypothetical. And if that “border” suddenly becomes the sky, it’s problematic. But if I, as a user, can fully choose and control it _from my phone_, go nuts
norwegian_user_with_iphone wrote:
That only works with normal companies that are motivated by revenue. Here we have a bad actor that is motivated by entirely different things.
Because you have come to a conclusion based on emotion and not logic or reason, there is nothing anyone her can say, no logic, no facts we can provide that will assuage your fears. So, continue to believe that Elon Musk is coming for you. We can't help you.
You, sir, are stating things as fact that aren’t in evidence. It sounds to me like you’re already under the Russian influence you fear so much. You’re spreading as much misinformation as those you fear.
You’re now stating that Elon Musk and Starlink can surreptitiously put firmware and software on your devices. That is just not true and dangerous to others, even if you don’t see or understand the harm your misinformation is causing.
So it basically works like a mobile network then, only ofc satellite, with a whitelist of roaming partners on the sim. I don’t know much about how security is handled with satellite networks, provided earning money isn’t the only objective. Hence the original question.
You are jumping to wild conclusions based on rumor and speculation. Calm down.
How to be 100% sure Starlink can't be used with my iOS devices
