FOR THOSE WITH MILITARY SOs. OPSEC
there are terrorist organizations, and others who individually wish to harm the US Armed Forces, that surf the internet precisely for forums such as this. they will spend hours reading and searching through the posts for just the right pieces of information to complete their puzzle or to begin a new one.
rank, full or last names, dates, hometowns, specific locations, etc may seem to be a simple, harmless information at first glance... but just think about it. if i were a terrorist, i would love to know the name and rank of someone in the Armed forces. based off of that, i could cruise that user's posts and pick up some more tidbits they accidentally let slip by... such as where they're stationed, what date they might be somewhere. i could find that soldier, or even his family and friends if i really wanted to based simply off his rank, branch, and last name.
this thread is basically to implore all of you ladies to PLEASE protect yourself, your men, and the United States as much as possible. dont voluntarily give information to those that wish to harm you and your men.
it's tried but true... "loose lips sink ships."
additionally, some of you might want to rethink using the pictures of your men as avatars... most specifically the ones in uniform where it's obvious what rank and/or branch that soldier holds. remember that it's also easy to enlarge pictures on a computer.
tribute pages, while wonderful for support of your men, can also do more harm than good if proper care isnt taken. if you're going to create or post a link to a tribute page, please ensure that it does not have any sensitive material contained in it (identifying ranks and last names, locations, dates, places, pictures, hometowns, etc.)
thank you
OPSEC is now talked about daily both online and off within the military community. Years ago, when the term was mentioned online, people would proclaim paranoia, overreaction or just dismiss the idea as being irrelevant. In today's world however, we know that what we say and where we say it can seriously endanger those we love the most. If you're new to military life, read on to find out what OPSEC is and what you should know to protect those you love in uniform and yourself.
What is OPSEC?
According to DefendAmerica.mil, "The premise of OPSEC is that the accumulation of one or more elements of sensitive/unclassified information or data could damage national security by revealing classified information."
That's simple enough. The idea is that what you say may not be an OPSEC problem, but combined with what SallyJoe says, it can reveal too much and could quite possibly risk lives. Online, it could be what you say over the course of weeks or months being put together.
OPSEC is guarding the information we do know, because little bits of information combined with other little bits of information can provide a large picture for someone (or a group) that would like nothing more than to harm U.S. military forces at home or abroad.
OPSEC Online
Some things just shouldn't be revealed online and others are personal preference. Here's a list of things that should NEVER be posted:
Military movements of any kind.
Dates of field problems, dates of returning soldiers from an overseas assignment (deployment or not), dates of deployments (coming or going) and airports service member(s) will be flying into or out of. Please remember that "next Tuesday" is a specific date.
Deployed activities
Although we know the press is in several regions with our service members and broadcasting from those regions, they are not broadcasting what our government doesn't want to be known. They are there with permission. We can't possibly know what is ok to post in regards to what service members may be doing (training or otherwise) in different regions. It's always better to be safe than sorry.
Specific Unit Information
Information regarding units and missions will be removed. We don't need to know that Company C usually does this, but now they are doing that. It might not mean anything to us, but it could mean something to someone who knows what he or she is looking for.
Security on Base
Information regarding gate guards, car inspections, when they change shifts, what is a more secure area than another and extra security the base is putting in place will be removed.
We realize this list could be quite frustrating or even scary. We've always wanted everyone at msHQ to have an open forum to talk about anything they care to discuss. When it comes to those we love and their safety though, we don't feel being extra cautious is a bad thing.
Please be patient with us if you do find your post has been edited. We understand that so many of us are under a great deal of stress and we are here to help if you happen to let your guard down. We care about you and those you love and as such, we want to help protect your safety especially when you may be too upset to look out for yourself.
If one of your posts is edited and you would like to talk about it please post - or email if you prefer to talk privately. We'll always be more than happy to discuss our reasons. If at some point we do act a bit on the paranoid side and overstep bounds, we'll be the first to apologize and immediately rectify the situation! The changes in the world today are new to all of us, but as long as we work together to protect each other we can't go wrong!
OPSEC Online - Personal Preference
Some people feel more secure by never revealing where they live or their real name. Others don't mind giving out this kind of information. If you aren't sure what is right for you, hopefully this article will help you decide.
Names and Locations
It's true that with a quick search online, having your first and last name and location can make it easy in some cases to find out your home phone number and/or your address. I've always said that if someone wanted to find me badly enough they could, but they'd meet my three dogs and my two hundred sixty-pound husband before gracing my presence !
The truth is, I don't want a stranger tracking me down - especially if my husband were deployed and I plan on sharing that information online to receive support. So, it's a good idea to decide now if you want your full name on your posts or in your signature. If you do, will you be able to remember every bit of personal information you post about yourself and your location that might make it easy for someone to find you? Most importantly, will you worry about it? If this is something that would worry you, decide today what kind of personal information you are willing to share. Making a decision before you post on what is right for you can help you decide what is within your comfort level - the level that won't have you worrying.
Rank and MOS
This is information I don't share online. I've always felt that in order to make new friends, receive support and have fun on a forum - this information wasn't needed. Other people don't mind sharing this information. In some instances, spouses might use it to find others who can understand their particular situation. Especially if it is a job where their spouse works odd or longer than normal hours or find they must move more often.
The issue with rank, MOS and OPSEC could come into play if someone were watching our forums for bits and pieces of information. Someone who is married to a Sergeant Major or a Colonel might be more beneficial to keep up with than someone who has a husband just coming into the military. Military member's rank and MOS dictates the kind of information they will be privy to and their spouses may know some of this information. Reading closely may provide the bits and pieces they are hoping for. If your spouse's rank or MOS isn't posted, it is one less part of the puzzle they have access to.
Personal Websites
Do you have one? Does it include information that strangers shouldn't know about your husband's job and/or your family? Do you link it from forums and websites that you frequent?
If you do, please reconsider. There are several personal sites I've viewed that with just the little bit of information they have on their personal website, not only could I have their phone number and address, I would know their common routines, where their children go to school, when their neighbors work, when they work and if their spouses are deployed or at home. I'm an Army wife, but are you sure? What about the other two hundred people that are registered just at our forum alone? Are we all absolutely sure everyone online is who they say they are? Are you willing to take a chance? Forget about terrorists for a moment, forget about your safety, what about your children's safety? After all, it's not as uncommon these days as it was in years past for children to be taken from their homes while the parents sleep. It is one area where too much information provided to the world at large is a bad idea in my opinion.
Email, Private Messages and Instant Messengers
Simply put, none of these are secure. We can break down each one and explain why they are not secure. For time considerations just keep in mind that the internet is just servers that store and transfer information connected to other servers that store and transfer information. When these transfers take place, any server within the world wide web your information travels through can store the information for someone to go back to at a later date and go through. If you are sharing information through any of these that would violate OPSEC, please reconsider. It's so easy to feel that these ways of communication are private, but if it's being tranferred over the internet, it is not private.
rank, full or last names, dates, hometowns, specific locations, etc may seem to be a simple, harmless information at first glance... but just think about it. if i were a terrorist, i would love to know the name and rank of someone in the Armed forces. based off of that, i could cruise that user's posts and pick up some more tidbits they accidentally let slip by... such as where they're stationed, what date they might be somewhere. i could find that soldier, or even his family and friends if i really wanted to based simply off his rank, branch, and last name.
this thread is basically to implore all of you ladies to PLEASE protect yourself, your men, and the United States as much as possible. dont voluntarily give information to those that wish to harm you and your men.
it's tried but true... "loose lips sink ships."
additionally, some of you might want to rethink using the pictures of your men as avatars... most specifically the ones in uniform where it's obvious what rank and/or branch that soldier holds. remember that it's also easy to enlarge pictures on a computer.
tribute pages, while wonderful for support of your men, can also do more harm than good if proper care isnt taken. if you're going to create or post a link to a tribute page, please ensure that it does not have any sensitive material contained in it (identifying ranks and last names, locations, dates, places, pictures, hometowns, etc.)
thank you
OPSEC is now talked about daily both online and off within the military community. Years ago, when the term was mentioned online, people would proclaim paranoia, overreaction or just dismiss the idea as being irrelevant. In today's world however, we know that what we say and where we say it can seriously endanger those we love the most. If you're new to military life, read on to find out what OPSEC is and what you should know to protect those you love in uniform and yourself.
What is OPSEC?
According to DefendAmerica.mil, "The premise of OPSEC is that the accumulation of one or more elements of sensitive/unclassified information or data could damage national security by revealing classified information."
That's simple enough. The idea is that what you say may not be an OPSEC problem, but combined with what SallyJoe says, it can reveal too much and could quite possibly risk lives. Online, it could be what you say over the course of weeks or months being put together.
OPSEC is guarding the information we do know, because little bits of information combined with other little bits of information can provide a large picture for someone (or a group) that would like nothing more than to harm U.S. military forces at home or abroad.
OPSEC Online
Some things just shouldn't be revealed online and others are personal preference. Here's a list of things that should NEVER be posted:
Military movements of any kind.
Dates of field problems, dates of returning soldiers from an overseas assignment (deployment or not), dates of deployments (coming or going) and airports service member(s) will be flying into or out of. Please remember that "next Tuesday" is a specific date.
Deployed activities
Although we know the press is in several regions with our service members and broadcasting from those regions, they are not broadcasting what our government doesn't want to be known. They are there with permission. We can't possibly know what is ok to post in regards to what service members may be doing (training or otherwise) in different regions. It's always better to be safe than sorry.
Specific Unit Information
Information regarding units and missions will be removed. We don't need to know that Company C usually does this, but now they are doing that. It might not mean anything to us, but it could mean something to someone who knows what he or she is looking for.
Security on Base
Information regarding gate guards, car inspections, when they change shifts, what is a more secure area than another and extra security the base is putting in place will be removed.
We realize this list could be quite frustrating or even scary. We've always wanted everyone at msHQ to have an open forum to talk about anything they care to discuss. When it comes to those we love and their safety though, we don't feel being extra cautious is a bad thing.
Please be patient with us if you do find your post has been edited. We understand that so many of us are under a great deal of stress and we are here to help if you happen to let your guard down. We care about you and those you love and as such, we want to help protect your safety especially when you may be too upset to look out for yourself.
If one of your posts is edited and you would like to talk about it please post - or email if you prefer to talk privately. We'll always be more than happy to discuss our reasons. If at some point we do act a bit on the paranoid side and overstep bounds, we'll be the first to apologize and immediately rectify the situation! The changes in the world today are new to all of us, but as long as we work together to protect each other we can't go wrong!
OPSEC Online - Personal Preference
Some people feel more secure by never revealing where they live or their real name. Others don't mind giving out this kind of information. If you aren't sure what is right for you, hopefully this article will help you decide.
Names and Locations
It's true that with a quick search online, having your first and last name and location can make it easy in some cases to find out your home phone number and/or your address. I've always said that if someone wanted to find me badly enough they could, but they'd meet my three dogs and my two hundred sixty-pound husband before gracing my presence !
The truth is, I don't want a stranger tracking me down - especially if my husband were deployed and I plan on sharing that information online to receive support. So, it's a good idea to decide now if you want your full name on your posts or in your signature. If you do, will you be able to remember every bit of personal information you post about yourself and your location that might make it easy for someone to find you? Most importantly, will you worry about it? If this is something that would worry you, decide today what kind of personal information you are willing to share. Making a decision before you post on what is right for you can help you decide what is within your comfort level - the level that won't have you worrying.
Rank and MOS
This is information I don't share online. I've always felt that in order to make new friends, receive support and have fun on a forum - this information wasn't needed. Other people don't mind sharing this information. In some instances, spouses might use it to find others who can understand their particular situation. Especially if it is a job where their spouse works odd or longer than normal hours or find they must move more often.
The issue with rank, MOS and OPSEC could come into play if someone were watching our forums for bits and pieces of information. Someone who is married to a Sergeant Major or a Colonel might be more beneficial to keep up with than someone who has a husband just coming into the military. Military member's rank and MOS dictates the kind of information they will be privy to and their spouses may know some of this information. Reading closely may provide the bits and pieces they are hoping for. If your spouse's rank or MOS isn't posted, it is one less part of the puzzle they have access to.
Personal Websites
Do you have one? Does it include information that strangers shouldn't know about your husband's job and/or your family? Do you link it from forums and websites that you frequent?
If you do, please reconsider. There are several personal sites I've viewed that with just the little bit of information they have on their personal website, not only could I have their phone number and address, I would know their common routines, where their children go to school, when their neighbors work, when they work and if their spouses are deployed or at home. I'm an Army wife, but are you sure? What about the other two hundred people that are registered just at our forum alone? Are we all absolutely sure everyone online is who they say they are? Are you willing to take a chance? Forget about terrorists for a moment, forget about your safety, what about your children's safety? After all, it's not as uncommon these days as it was in years past for children to be taken from their homes while the parents sleep. It is one area where too much information provided to the world at large is a bad idea in my opinion.
Email, Private Messages and Instant Messengers
Simply put, none of these are secure. We can break down each one and explain why they are not secure. For time considerations just keep in mind that the internet is just servers that store and transfer information connected to other servers that store and transfer information. When these transfers take place, any server within the world wide web your information travels through can store the information for someone to go back to at a later date and go through. If you are sharing information through any of these that would violate OPSEC, please reconsider. It's so easy to feel that these ways of communication are private, but if it's being tranferred over the internet, it is not private.
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