Airmen reminded to keep cyberspace secure during awareness month

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Angelique N. Smythe
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month.

"Every Airman and every Air Force member who has access to a network account is on the frontline of cyberspace security," said Peter Reichert, chief of the 95th Communications Squadron Information Assurance Flight. "It is up to every individual to defend the Air Force network."

Usually, the first step in Airmen becoming educated and understanding the do's and don'ts of defending the network is completing their Information Assurance training.

"From there, it's making sure you're being diligent and applying all of those things you learn over time to maintain this integrity," Mr. Reichert said.

Mr. Reichert reminds all to make sure their home computers and personal information are protected as well.

"A lot of people take work home, do it on their home computers and bring that back to work, sometimes by e-mailing it to themselves," he said. "Be aware that you protect not only the Air Force's computers, but your personal computers as well, not only because you might pick up a virus that could potentially migrate to the Air Force network, but for your own benefit. Protect your personal information from identity theft. There are adversaries and hackers out there who are trying to get your information."

There's no guarantee for complete safety in cyberspace, but taking appropriate steps can help prevent criminals and identity thieves from stealing personal information and accessing computers. These steps can also minimize exposure to other Internet security risks.

"Information technology provides us with critical advantages in all of our warfighting domains, so we need to protect cyberspace to enable those advantages," said Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III.

Here are ten things every Airman should know about cyberspace security.

1. The United States is vulnerable to cyberspace attacks by relentless adversaries attempting to infiltrate our networks at work and at home - millions of times a day, 24/7.

2. Our enemies plant malicious code, worms, botnets, and hooks in common websites, software, and hardware such as thumb drives, printers, etc.

3. Once implanted, this code begins to distort, destroy, and manipulate information, or - phone it home. Certain code allows our adversaries to obtain higher levels of credentials to access highly sensitive information.

4. The enemy attacks your computers at work and at home knowing you communicate with the Air Force network by email, or transfer information from one system to another.

5. As cyber wingmen, you have a critical role in defending your networks, your information, your security, your teammates, and your country.

6. You significantly decrease our enemies' access to our networks, critical Air Force information, and even your personal identity by taking simple action.

7. Do not open attachments or click on links unless the email is digitally signed, or you can directly verify the source - even if it appears to be from someone you know.

8. Do not connect any hardware or download any software applications, music, or information onto our networks without approval.

9. Encrypt sensitive but unclassified and/or critical information. Ask your computer systems administrator for more information.

10. Install the free Department of Defense anti-virus software on your home computer. Your CSA can provide you with your free copy.