National Cyber Security Month - Oct 2012

1. Yo u a r e a O P S E C AT H O M E
To safeguard you, your family and your
v i t a l p l ay e r belongings, here are a few tips for your
home. Note that all help to control the infor-
in our
mation you share with others.
success  Do not put your children’s names on
their backpacks.
 Do not put the box your brand new TV
As a family member of the military
came in on the curb for trash pick-up.
community, you are a vital player in our You are only advertising.
 Do not leave your trash can on the curb
success. We cannot complete our job
when you are out of town.
without your support. You may not  Have some one pick up your news
papers and mail while you are away.
know it, but you also play a crucial role
 Have automatic lights set for random
in ensuring your loved one’s safety just times.
 Be mindful that if it has snowed for a
by what you know of the military’s daily
few days and there are no tracks in your
operations. You can protect your loved driveway, this is a pretty good indicator
that you are not home. Have the
ones by protecting that military neighbors kids shovel your driveway to
make it look like you are home.
operations information. This is known in
 Don’t share photos online that contain
the military as operations security, or geotags (location the photo was taken),
addresses, school districts (on buses,
OPSEC. etc.)
 Be mindful of what you’re sharing with
Ope rati ons
others on bumper stickers and vanity
sec u rit y
plates.
375TH AIR MOBILITY WING
OPSEC OFFICE A GUIDE FOR
Phone: (618) 256-3056
E-mail: opsec@scott.af.mil THE FAMILY

2. W h at e x a c t ly What can you do? Puzzle Pieces
is opsec? Even though this information may not be “SECRET”, These pieces of information may seem
it’s what we call “Critical Information.” Critical insignificant. However, to a trained
Information deals with specific facts about military adversary, they are small pieces of a puzzle
OPSEC is the process of safeguarding our
intentions, capabilities, operations or activities. If an that highlight what we are doing and
critical unclassified information from potential adversary knew this detailed information, our planning. Remember, the elements of
adversaries. As the name suggests, it
mission and personnel safety security, secrecy and surprise are vital to
protects our operations planned, operations
could be jeopardized. It must the accomplishment of our goals and our
in progress and operations completed.
be protected to ensure an collective personnel protection.
Success depends on secrecy and surprise. adversary doesn’t gain a
Where and how
significant advantage.
For example; have you ever watched a you discuss this
football game? If the offense can trick or By being a member of the military family, you will information is
surprise the defense, the play is successful. often know some details of military information. Do j u s t a s
Enemies of freedom want our information no not discuss them outside of your immediate family important as
matter how small or insignificant and they and especially not over the telephone, e-mail or with whom you
are not just looking for information from the social networking sites. discuss it.
military member. Adversaries agents tasked with collecting
Examples of Critical Information information frequently visit some of the
So why you???
 Detailed information about missions of assigned same stores, clubs, recreational areas,
As a civilian, why would anyone want to places of worship AND social networking
units
target you as a source of information? sites like Facebook and Myspace.
 Details concerning locations and times of units
Without realizing it, you Determined individuals can easily collect
deployments
may know small bits of data from cordless and cellular phones and
information that an  Details concerning security procedures baby monitors using inexpensive receivers
adversary can piece available from local electronic stores.
 Details of TDYs to include length and or location
together to complete a
If anyone, especially a foreign national
bigger picture. They are trained to ask Critical Information at home
persistently seeks information from you,
certain questions in such a casual way, they
 Where you hide your key outside
notify your military sponsor immediately. He
make you feel comfortable enough to reveal
 How long you will be on vacation or how long or she will notify the unit OPSEC program
information they can use.
your spouse will be deployed manager or local office of investigations.