An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Aug. 31, 2010

Air Force officials urge OPSEC vigilance

By Tech. Sgt. Amaani Lyle, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

WASHINGTON - According to the FBI, fraudsters continue to hijack accounts on social networking sites and spread malicious software.

One technique entices users to download an application or view a video that appears to be sent from users' "friends", giving the perception of being legitimate.

Once the user responds to the phishing site, downloads the application, or clicks on the video link, their computer becomes infected.

With the influx of social media, Web 2.0 platforms and subsequent ease in sharing of sensitive and personally identifying information, Airmen should consider the risks and vulnerabilities in both personal and official activities, Air Force officials recently said.

Airmen using non-classified systems must ensure they are not posting classified, restricted distribution, proprietary, or For Official Use Only information on public Web sites to include Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blog sites, etc.

“We’re starting to see a loss of sensitive information occurring at an alarming rate,” said Ryan McCausland of the Information Protection directorate.

“This information not only affects the user, but can impact millions of Americans through medical, payroll and military service records.”

McCausland explained that release of personable identifiable information is also a concern.  This includes any information about an individual maintained by an agency, including, but not limited to, education, financial transactions, medical history, and criminal or employment history. 

It also includes information which can be used to distinguish or trace an individual's identity, such as their name, social security number, date and place of birth, mother’s maiden name, biometric records, etc., including any other personal information which can be linked or linkable to an individual.

The release of personable identifiable information also applies to information about active duty military, DOD civilians, military family members, contractors, National Guard and the Reserves. Among the restricted items are biographies, rosters, telephone directories, detailed organizational lists or charts that reflect personnel, and multiple names of individuals from different organizations or locations on the same document or web page.

Unclassified but sensitive information such as detailed mission statements, operations schedules, unit recall rosters, standing operating procedures, and policy memorandums require special handling and should also not be posted on public web sites, according to McCausland said.

“The care and discretion of every Airman is critical to ensuring operational security in today’s information age,” McCausland said. “We must all continually safeguard our personal information as well as the information we handle in the workplace.”

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Air National Guard civilian firefighters, assigned to the Vermont Air National Guard Fire Department, pose in front of the fire truck that was the first on scene, South Burlington, VT, June 4, 2025. These firefighters provided the first fire truck on scene to a local fire.
Vermont Air Guard First on Scene of South Burlington Fire
By Airman Raymond LaChance, | June 4, 2025
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – Doireann Chesbrough, a civilian firefighter for the Vermont Air National Guard Fire Department, was sitting next to the radio in the dayroom of the station as the sun began to set over the Green...

Paratroopers from the Colorado National Guard and the Jordanian Armed Forces stand together before the first joint Colorado-Jordan airborne Friendship Jump, Watkins, Colorado, April 23, 2025. Members parachuted from a CH-47 Chinook as part of an event to strengthen interoperability and deepen the partnership between the two forces.
Airborne Operation Strengthens Colorado Guard, Jordan Partnership
By Senior Airman Melissa Escobar-Pereira, | June 4, 2025
CENTENNIAL, Colo. – In a display of cooperation and capability, Soldiers from the Colorado Army National Guard and the Jordanian Armed Forces recently conducted a joint airborne operation in Watkins, Colorado.The April 23...

Army Guard Soldiers assigned to Regional Command-East of the NATO-led Kosovo Force mission, also known as KFOR, host a multinational non-commissioned officer academy, referred to as the Jungleer Academy, at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, May 8, 2025. 11 Sergeants Major from seven countries shared their experience with the soldiers, and many nations showcased their weapons, gear, vehicles and took a flight or hoisted in the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
Army Guard Soldiers in Kosovo Host Inaugural Event for Non-Commissioned Officers
By Sgt. Cheryl Madolev, | June 4, 2025
CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – National Guard Soldiers assigned to Regional Command-East of the NATO-led Kosovo Force mission recently hosted an inaugural multinational event for non-commissioned officers (NCOs), focusing on...