Starlink shuts down its GPS-style cheat code. Researchers may unlock it anyway.

Starlink is shutting down a GPS-style positioning feature that customers could previously access through its local API, with the company having restricted access to this capability that some users had leveraged for several years. The feature is being restricted for security and privacy reasons, as third-party devices could read GPS coordinates by bypassing system permissions. Despite this shutdown, researchers continue working to harness Starlink's satellite constellation as a navigation alternative, especially given the increasing prevalence of GPS jamming and spoofing attacks.

Source: Ars Technica | 2026-05-11