And I’m sure whoever put it there faced way more harsher penalties than a certain someone who willfully hid highly classified documents in his bathroom for months and lied about it to investigators.
After seeing Wi-Fi network named “STINKY,” Navy found hidden Starlink dish on US warship
Submitted 2 months ago by return2ozma@lemmy.world to technology@lemmy.world
Comments
paddirn@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Maggoty@lemmy.world 2 months ago
According to Navy Times, reduction in rank. According to my experience, likely going to be told they can’t re-enlist after the end of their current term. Likely shipped stateside and in charge of mowing the lawn somewhere.
Deebster@programming.dev 2 months ago
The source story is worth a read.
Marrero’s background is in Navy intelligence, and she earned a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in information security and digital management
Incredible.
But she soon changed the “STINKY” Wi-Fi network name to another moniker that looked like a wireless printer — even though no such general-use wireless printers were present on the ship, the investigation found.
Why not just switch off broadcasting the SSID?
she soon changed the “STINKY” Wi-Fi network name to another moniker that looked like a wireless printer — even though no such general-use wireless printers were present on the ship
[The CO and XO] then conducted another sweep inside the ship. Although the network that appeared to be a wireless printer appeared on their personal devices during their search, neither made additional inquiries regarding that network
No-one’s coming out of this looking good.
Marrero’s secret Starlink dish was removed the same day, and Marrero told another unidentified crew member the next day that it was authorized for in-port use — prompting sailors to re-install the illegal Starlink.
It just keeps going!
Maggoty@lemmy.world 2 months ago
To be fair, if the lead NCO of a unit is just going to flat out lie then a lot of people are going to believe it. I can’t imagine being a lower NCO or enlisted and thinking command actually authorized the chiefs to break operational security for entertainment, but only them. Every chief in that crew should be busted and flagged against promotion again. The investigation was completely right to say if they didn’t know, they should have.
Dozzi92@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I may have missed it in this article, though I believe I read elsewhere, that she got busted down one rank and that’s it. I know military in general is having retention and recruitment issues, but to me this is more than just a busting down offense. That the senior enlisted on a ship would so nonchalantly disregard OPSEC demonstrates either a clear lack of understanding, or worse, something more nefarious.
We saw a naval officer relieved of command for having the scope backwards on his rifle. This, to me, rises to a much higher level.
pdxfed@lemmy.world 2 months ago
First thought I had after read through, how much did that masters cost and you didn’t learn that you can turn off the broadcast name so only people who know it’s there can connect? Probably not even a real degree, freakonomjcs did an episode maybe 10 years ago that said probably 5% of degrees are fake, bet it’s 20% now, lying is culturally through the roof.
stoly@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Having an understanding of technology genetically and knowing how specific technologies work barely different things. The first takes great effort. The second is done by a nerd who can’t sleep and is curious.
BluesF@lemmy.world 2 months ago
MBAs should be renamed Master’s in Bullshit Administration.
return2ozma@lemmy.world 2 months ago
The levels of incompetence.
dhork@lemmy.world 2 months ago
What’s better is that, thanks to Elon Musk, “STINKY” is the default name for its Starlink wifi. They didn’t even change that.
Ep1cFac3pa1m@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Don’t worry! I’m sure the default username and password didn’t get changed either.
Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 2 months ago
They did, because they were charging people for access to it.
MerchantsOfMisery@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
He’s so weirdly childish.
NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
Can’t speak to starlink specifically, but I know some shittier router brands would often reset to factory defaults every time you updated the firmware. Can easily see starlink doing that with a pushed firmware with the expectation some additional cell phone app would restore the correct settings.
So they very well might have turned off broadcasting but it got popped back on while they were on shift and it was detected.
Buelldozer@lemmy.today 2 months ago
Nah, Starlink doesn’t reset the Wi-Fi SSID for a firmware update.
tyler@programming.dev 2 months ago
Hmm I got Starlink earlier this year and I don’t remember it having a default. I think it asked me to set the ssid immediately.
blazeknave@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Dude isn’t American. More money than a sovereign nation. Space level ballistic capabilities. Openly aligned with our enemies and their values.
How the fuck does he have a penny of my federal fucking tax dollars? We’re funding fucking terrorists that don’t even need the subsidies.
imaqtpie@lemmy.myserv.one 2 months ago
What dude are you referring to? I’m confused how your comment relates to the article.
stephen01king@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
Lemmy, where you get downvoted for being confused and asking for clarification. Good job everyone.
96VXb9ktTjFnRi@feddit.nl 2 months ago
Elon Musk
sour@feddit.org 2 months ago
I mean, u know that SpaceXs main income is flying shit around for NASA? If that was unexpected for you, I have bad news.
blazeknave@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Unexpected? Did my comment convey surprise? I think I’m upset bc I’m informed.
echodot@feddit.uk 2 months ago
Read the article
blazeknave@lemmy.world 2 months ago
What? Why is my comment invalid in the context.
return2ozma@lemmy.world 2 months ago
To make matters even worse…
The chiefs found that the Wi-Fi signal coming off the Starlink satellite transceiver couldn’t cover the entire ship, so during a stop in Pearl Harbor, they bought “signal repeaters and cable” to extend coverage.
doctortran@lemm.ee 2 months ago
This many chiefs (not rank-and-file, chiefs), putting this much effort into breaking Navy protocol, together, is crazy. And for what? Memes?
I know deployment at sea can be boring but Jesus fucking Christ, read a damn book or something.
Pacattack57@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Here’s the meat and potatoes of the article.
In 2023, they decided that the best way to deal with the problem was to secretly bolt a Starlink terminal to the “O-5 level weatherdeck” of a US warship.
They called the resulting Wi-Fi network “STINKY”—and when officers on the ship heard rumors and began asking questions, the leader of the scheme brazenly lied about it. Then, when exposed, she went so far as to make up fake Starlink usage reports suggesting that the system had only been accessed while in port, where cybersecurity and espionage concerns were lower.
Rather unsurprisingly, the story ends badly, with a full-on Navy investigation and court-martial.
ChickenLadyLovesLife@lemmy.world 2 months ago
when officers on the ship heard rumors
Lol not only is this an incredible violation of security, they couldn’t even keep their fucking mouths shut about it.
orrk@lemmy.world 2 months ago
average starlink user, worse than arch users
ByteOnBikes@slrpnk.net 2 months ago
Good. At a company, you get your ass fired if they catch you using non-approved equipment on company infrastructure. It can lead to leaks and infiltration, and lost of revenue.
In the military, that’s people’s lives!
rekabis@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
Sailors on the ship then began finding the STINKY network and asking questions about it.
Oh, c’mon. it is trivial to make an SSID “hidden” for any networking tech that you have administrative control over. That way, only those “in the know” will know the SSID name to type in, in order to access said wireless network. It would not be “discoverable” by standard wireless-connectivity gear such as the default wifi interface in mobile phones.
ayyy@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
Hidden WiFi networks are not actually hidden in the literal sense. They still broadcast beacons that your wifi chip will see as basically “hidden network beacon lives here”. Your network connect interface just decides not to show you a list with a bunch of useless “(hidden)” entries you can’t do anything with.
Also, when a new client wants to connect to the hidden network, the first thing it does is broadcast an unencrypted message saying “HEY, I’M LOOKING FOR [hidden network name]” so it’s completely trivial to unveil the name of hidden networks given enough time.
Thetimefarm@lemm.ee 2 months ago
I think it’d be more for obfuscation than completely hiding it. As long as there are other hidden networks on the ship you just name it something generic that blends in. I mean this whole thing is a really stupid idea, but naming it something like “COM.NAB_ISO:4133” would draw less attention.
rekabis@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
That’s why I put that term in quotes, and was specific about default networking interfaces. I didn’t go into detail because that confuses a lot of people.
Source: working with wireless networks professionally for pretty much the last quarter century.
InEnduringGrowStrong@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
“HEY, I’M LOOKING FOR [hidden network name]”
Client devices can also do this all the time even when not in range, which basically broadcasts they’re looking for that network everywhere they go. That’s just asking for someone to setup a rogue access point.
unrigged6112@lemmy.world 2 months ago
What really surprises me is that the schips equipment never picked up on those unauthorized signals. Hell they can pick up pavarotti in pearl harbour on their sonar. (Red oktober reference) . but they cant pick up multiple unknown signals in the 2.4 and 5 GHz band
TranscendentalEmpire@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Command Senior Chief
The person who came up with the scheme is also the most senior NCO on the ship. All the enlisted people in charge of monitoring that activity knew, they just knew not to ask questions.You would be surprised how much pull an E-8 or E-9 has in the military.
AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Can confirm was an O-5 and if an E-5 or above was talking, I shut up and listened. Those guys get shit done.
rob_t_firefly@lemmy.world 2 months ago
And this situation shows an inherent weakness of a military culture which demands one pretend a dumbass isn’t a dumbass just because of their badge collection.
rottingleaf@lemmy.world 2 months ago
That movie is not very realistic.
WhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Are you telling me that some things do react well to bullets?
ShepherdPie@midwest.social 2 months ago
You’re telling me that Sean Connery isn’t Russian? He was so convincing in the role.
unrigged6112@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Wow just wow. Mind is blown. If thats your response you probably have no idea what my point was
itsnotits@lemmy.world 2 months ago
the ship’s* equipment
Redruth@feddit.nl 2 months ago
*skiff
14th_cylon@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Reminds me of this…
modifier@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
Reminds me of Sgt Bilko.
SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 months ago
Between Trump stealing national security secrets and shit like this, it’s honestly shocking the USA hasn’t already become a full-fledged fascist hell-hole. It’s currently only half-fledged.
But seriously, it must be fucking child’s play for other nations to spy on us with dumb fucking shit like this happening.
Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
Hey, give us a chance. We have another election right around the corner and things are really looking good for a solid commitment to fully flegged hell-holism.
Stanley_Pain@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
The weakest link is always the lowest common denominator. I’m pretty sure that the other armies around the world have their fair share of idiots too.
Maggoty@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Oh it’s the same with other countries too. We all regularly have breaches due to the dumbest shit. Just ask the War Thunder community. It’s about time for them to have another one.
0x0@programming.dev 2 months ago
Ya mean like ppl using classified information in World of Tanks forums to prove a point… more than once?
Wispy2891@lemmy.world 2 months ago
i was wondering why would you choose such a stupid WiFi access point name, then I read that it was Elon musk that decided that the default starlink AP name has to be that stupid so people would change it
echodot@feddit.uk 2 months ago
My ISP gave me an access point called CSP218891F Which I’m rather worried about.
Skullgrid@lemmy.world 2 months ago
can we just fucking all take a break for a month? just have things go to being boring?
I attended a fucking ethics of ai talk at my work, only to run into a fucking knockoff nazi complaining about the founding fathers images being generated with black people, and talking about how silicon valley is too left wing.
either you’re so stupid that you don’t understand it’s a fucking alt-right dog whistle, or you’re a fucking nazi who gets very, very upset if you see a black person in any context. Either way, just shut the fuck up.
tabarnaski@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
The fact that they didn’t even try to hide their ssid (or at least, the report doesn’t say they did) shows how stupid people can be with cybersecurity.
Username@feddit.org 2 months ago
Apparently “STINKY” is the default StarLink SSID (Another Musk joke), so yeah…
Maggoty@lemmy.world 2 months ago
To be fair, this is a navy ship. If they got the sniffers out and found a hidden one then the officers would be tearing the ship apart to find it right then and there. Hiding in plain view was the better choice.
To be mean, because these chiefs deserve it, Stinky is apparently the default name. These fucking geniuses left the default name up rather than try to camouflage it as a legitimate network. So I’m pretty sure none of the top part went through their smooth brains. They just assumed it would go unnoticed. Then they assumed they had enough privilege to make the enlisted think this was proper. Forgetting just how pugnacious the middle enlisted can be when they feel something is both unfair and know it’s against regs. (They will make it their life’s mission to humble a leader, and they win more often than not)
deltreed@lemmy.world 2 months ago
If I was in a warship, I’d want TikTok too.
rottingleaf@lemmy.world 2 months ago
You can take your porn collection on a few USB sticks. And games. And movies. And books. And music.
tacosanonymous@lemm.ee 2 months ago
Some McHale’s Navy shit only with actual consequences.
KonalaKoala@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I think the next step is to call for a criminal investigation into Elon Musk for installing spyware on a US Warship, and get him charged with espionage for the Russians or Chinese.
drunkpostdisaster@lemmy.world 2 months ago
The Rosenbergs died for less.
pop@lemmy.ml 2 months ago
must’ve been a Russian psyops. USA isn’t that incompetent in itself. oh wait…
It doesn’t stop wanks from blaming it on Putin, still. LMAO
VantaBrandon@lemmy.world 2 months ago
#1 African scammer who would sell out “his country” for the price of X premium has a backdoor to all military infra, Xi is getting a chubby
cabron_offsets@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Heads should roll.
solrize@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Reed to T’Pol: “I was always rather fond of the name Stinky”.
Arkhive@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 months ago
Just trying to play CoD with THE BOYS back home!! That and running their onlyfans pages. Come on, let them have their fun!
Cryxtalix@programming.dev 2 months ago
This whole time, I was wondering why people cared so much about some random network, that they’ll attempt to search for it and write suggestions about it. People usually aren’t that interested in the network infrastructure of government facilities.
That’s some pretty significant context the writer didn’t even know until informed by a reader.
Ep1cFac3pa1m@lemmy.world 2 months ago
That seems like a significant security risk
givesomefucks@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Probably not for the reason you think.
Like, it wouldn’t be patched into anything official
But it means Musk knew where that ship was 24/7, and I’m pretty sure that’s why Ukraine’s military stopped using it. Musk tipped off Putin to troop movements.
cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de 2 months ago
It’s emmitting radio signals that an enemy could use to help locate the ship.
potentiallynotfelix@lemdro.id 2 months ago
Wait he did? Can you provide a source for this? I can only find information about him stopping starlink service in crimea
Ep1cFac3pa1m@lemmy.world 2 months ago
The reason I think is because any unofficial and potentially unsecured communications access point seems like a vulnerability. If some moron posts a picture using that unofficial access point I’d be worried it could be traced to the ship’s location.
catloaf@lemm.ee 2 months ago
It wouldn’t be… Until it is.
Hotzilla@sopuli.xyz 2 months ago
Everybody knew were the ship was, because at that time star link usage by area was shown publicly. There was map online that showed all clients online.
realcaseyrollins@thelemmy.club 2 months ago
I’m sorry, this made me laugh. Is that a widely accepted conspiracy theory in this community? That Elon Musk is a Russian spy?
hddsx@lemmy.ca 2 months ago
When did they stop using starlink?
DaddleDew@lemmy.world 2 months ago
It was exactly the reason I was thinking
technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
I feel like every military is full of technological babies acting out security theatre with each other while everything is totally hacked.