Stay vigilant on social media
RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Social media has revolutionized the speed of communication and the way people stay connected. However, there are risks that come along with the benefits of networking online.
When you post or share personal information online, it could be used against you, your family and friends.
"Social media is a great tool to keep in touch with your family, especially as a military member overseas," said Staff Sgt. Jermaine Kellogg, 100th Air Refueling Wing staff agency operations security coordinator from Omaha, Nebraska. "You just can't put any information out there for everyone to see."
Social media sites can make it easy to stay in touch with loved ones, but it can also make it easy for potential adversaries to collect information. The more information shared, the more vulnerabilities become apparent.
Fox News reported Sep. 10, 2010, that three men in New Hampshire committed more than 50 break-ins by targeting victims who posted their location on Facebook.
Similarly, Business Insider reported in an Aug. 13, 2012 article that Dell founder, Michael Dell, spends $2.7 million per year to protect his family, but tweets and blogs from his teenage children revealed detailed GPS information on the family's whereabouts, photos and trip plans.
"Keep your most private information off the internet," said Kellogg. "Make sure when you are taking pictures that the background does not give away any information, like where you are or anything that may breach OPSEC."
Tips to think about before posting on social media:
· Set privacy settings on social media sites to restrict access to posts, but don't rely on those settings to be a fail-safe.
· Don't share information that you're not willing to share with the world, as some websites could leak information.
· Don't post personal information such as your home address or phone number.
· Disable GPS functions on smart devices when not in use to avoid inadvertently attaching your location when posting from your smart device.
· Avoid posting travel plans and details of your daily schedules.
· Be aware of open Wi-Fi hot spots in public areas where information can easily be stolen from phones or tablets.
· Don't publicize your association with special operations forces.
· Be aware of unrecognized friends or followers on social networks.
Additionally, according to Air Force Instructions 1-1, "Air Force Standards," even having unknown followers could constitute relationships that may affect determinations in background investigations associated with security clearances.
"Don't give too much information about yourself; always be mindful of the threats out there and stay alert," said Kellogg.
Military members and their families are encouraged to continue being vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately. For more information, contact your unit OPSEC manager.
(Erica Vega, Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs, contributed to this article)