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March 8, 2011
facebook & other social networks
Preventing OPSEC Violations 3
cryptologists and communicators whose job is to discern what we’re doing.” The danger begins when the individual pieces are assembled. One Sailor’s post of a port name could be combined with Sailor who has the time to write 50 e-mails or make 50 another’s post of their excitement at staying at a hotel soon. phone calls to 50 individuals on a daily basis would likely have his “It’s hard to mask where a carrier is going logistically. That time management heavily scrutinized and possibly judged to be an tells the enemy when you’ll be in port, and they can set up underemployed individual, perfect for a collateral duty assignment surveillance knowing a time and place. They can put two and or three. two together and know where a gathering will be,” said Jones. Using the social networking website Facebook, Sailors on board Sailors have received the message and are staying cautious Carl Vinson can spend three minutes updating hundreds of their with their updates. Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) friends and family on the details of their day-to-day lives. But like Airman Johnny Muller, a Silver Springs, Md. native assigned to any tool, damage can ensue from careless and improper use, and Air Department V-3 Division, explained his vested interest in what may seem like trivial data can be collected and assembled maintaining accessibility. into a viable terrorist intelligence report. “It’s how I get a hold of my family and friends back home. I’m Until very recently aboard Vinson, the use of Facebook had careful about what I post, because I don’t want to put someone’s been prohibited in the 5th Fleet area of operations for years for life in danger. You don’t know who might be watching,” said its potential as an avenue for Muller. “I would be very sensitive information to publicly frustrated if it went down. It’s “It’s how I get a hold of my the only way to reach them leak and violate operational security (OPSEC). Ensign G. family and friends back home. besides e-mail, but e-mail can Jones, Vinson’s communications go down at any time.” officer and information I’m careful about what I post, Aviation Ordnanceman services manager, explained the because I don’t want to put Airman Michael Robson, a concentrated effort by Vinson’s Lake, Wis. native assigned someone’s life in danger. You Silver leadership to bring the social to Weapons Department G-3 networking site back to boost don’t know who might be Division is not an avid user of the morale of Vinson Sailors. the service, but appreciates the watching.” “We put together a team value of the resource. - A i r m a n J o h n n y M u l l e r outside and inside [Navy “I don’t go on it a lot, but Criminal Investigation Service]. there was a lot of excitement in We looked at intelligence reports and lessons learned from other my division. OPSEC should be common sense, but a reminder carriers. Basically we looked for how often a social network was now and again is all right,” Robson said. “I know a lot of people used to gather intelligence and what risk it posed for Carl Vinson,” who would be angry if it got secured.” said Jones. “For now the benefits outweigh the risks, and this was a Jones summarized the issue into a case of what details need to decision by the captain and the staff.” be publicly known. Jones cautioned Sailors of underestimating the value of their “Sailors need to be conscious of what is being said to their posts to the enemy. family and friends. Do you need to say that? Do they need to “Facebook is an OPSEC issue because it’s the most heavily used know where you’ll be at an exact time? The answer is no most of social network out there and our enemies know it. They know the time. If adversaries know, it gives them a target,” said Jones. how to tap into it, they know how to circumvent the restrictions Jones encouraged Sailors with questions regarding OPSEC on the site. They can plant malware and watch our activity, and to contact Vinson’s network security division, and for family they’re listening for evidence that we know they’re listening,” members with questions about the ship’s status to contact the explained Jones. “Iran, Afghanistan and China use state-sponsored command’s ombudsmen. Story by MC2 Byron C. Linder USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer
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