Pentagon said that the U.S. needs to learn from SpaceX Starlink's recent Russian cyberattack shut down. 

Pentagon Says US Needs To Learn From SpaceX Starlink's Russian Cyberattack Shut Down
(Photo : Photo by PHILIP PACHECO/AFP via Getty Images)
SpaceX founder Elon Musk addresses members of the media during a press conference announcing new developments of the Crew Dragon reusable spacecraft, at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California on October 10, 2019. (Photo by Philip Pacheco / AFP)

Dave Tremper, the electronic warfare director for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, shared this detail during the C4ISRNET Conference, which happened on Wednesday, Apr. 20. 

Recently, SpaceX's used its Starlink internet service to help Ukraine. However, the space agency was concerned since Russia's cyberattacks could affect the internet connection they provide to Ukrainians. 

Because of this, Elon Musk decided to make efforts to ensure that their Starlink services in the country would not be interrupted. 

Pentagon Says US Needs To Learn From SpaceX

Tremper explained that SpaceX's ways of handling online attacks are somehow more efficient than the U.S. government's methods. 

Pentagon Says US Needs To Learn From SpaceX Starlink's Russian Cyberattack Shut Down
(Photo : Photo by Red Huber/Getty Images)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from launch complex 39A carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft on a commercial mission managed by Axion Space at Kennedy Space Center April 8, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The first fully private crew on an 10-day mission to the International Space Station is commanded by former NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria.

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"The way that Starlink was able to upgrade when a threat showed up, we need to be able to have that ability," he added via IFL Science

On the other hand, Dave explained that the Pentagon's common method of preventing cyberattacks (problem identifying and solution development) is not really effective. 

He added that this method takes a long time compared to the technique that Elon Musk used for his SpaceX Starlink internet connection in Ukraine. 

Now, what did Elon Musk do that is so effective in preventing Russia's online attacks?  

What Elon Musk Did 

Breaking Defense reported that Elon Musk sent his Starlink terminals to Ukraine in February. The billionaire was already aware of the possible Russian cyberattacks. 

And he is right since experts claimed that Russians attempted to jam the Starlink satellites using electromagnetic attacks. However, SpaceX was able to reconnect its cube sats using online a single line of code. 

Thanks to this fast anti-cyber attack effort of the space agency, the Starlink internet services were able to operate uninterrupted in Ukraine. 

Meanwhile, rumors claim that Pentagon plans to explore AI

On the other hand, the Pentagon's JEDI cloud contract was allegedly discontinued. 

For more news updates about Pentagon and other related cybersecurity topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.  

Related Article: Pentagon-Linked Defense Contractors and Subcontractors Targeted by Russian Hackers, US Intelligence Says

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Written by: Griffin Davis

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