India, Jan. 16 -- Elon Musk's Starlink, the satellite internet service by SpaceX, is facing one of its most high-profile security tests yet as Iran cracks down on dissidents. Since its use during the Ukraine war, Starlink has become a lifeline in regions facing government-imposed internet blackouts. Now, Iran's attempts to jam or block the service have put Musk's company at the center of another geopolitical hotspot.

Earlier this week, SpaceX made Starlink free for Iranians, a move that has drawn global attention. Analysts, researchers, and activists report that U.S.-based SpaceX engineers are now working to protect the system against Iranian efforts using satellite jammers and signal-spoofing tactics.

The situation is not just a techni...