FORT KNOX, Ky. –
October is Cyber Security Awareness month. USAREC personnel must stay ahead of cyber risks that target our communications, systems, and data. Cybersecurity is not just an IT responsibility; it is a mission-critical duty every Soldier and civilian must uphold to protect our operations, national security and personal information.
“Prioritizing cyber awareness is like making sure everyone knows how to lock their doors and windows to keep out intruders,” said Nick Najera, U.S. Army Recruiting Command G6, Information System Security Officer.
Cyber security is a topic that is a priority for USAREC leaders. To ensure compliance of the entire staff; USAREC Information Technology experts give mandatory annual training.
“We, in the Cybersecurity Division, understand teammates dread the mandatory annual Cyber awareness Challenge training,” said Najera. “We encourage teammates take the time to understand the content that is presented during these trainings.”
When an adversary can execute cyberattacks, there is a significant threat for information to be stolen or operations to be disrupted. There are many ways to protect against cyberattacks and protect both personal and business information by receiving education and building knowledge about cyber security.
Civilians and Soldiers can show their knowledge of cyber awareness in their day-to-day lives. One major cyber security attack that can impact someone in both their personal and professional lives come through emails. Avoiding emails, attachments and links from unknown sources can protect against attempts to steal information.
Another way to protect against cyberattacks is protecting passwords. Creating strong, unique passwords for different accounts and changing them regularly can reduce the risk of being hacked. Updating the devices and software can also protect you from new threats that can affect your security.
There are more ways to protect against cyber security attacks. Public Wi-Fi networks can open you up for cyber-attacks because these networks are not secure or protected. To avoid potential cyberattacks of this nature, people should avoid accessing sensitive information over public Wi-Fi networks. Unauthorized access to your government or personal devices can put your information at risk. Locking your computer or mobile devices and removing your CAC from your computer can prevent your information from being accessed without your permission.
Common cyberattacks Soldiers and Civilians should look out for:
Phishing – when someone tries to trick you into giving away personal information, for example passwords or credit card numbers, by pretending to be a trustworthy source, often through fake emails or websites.
Malware – harmful software that can damage your computer or steal your information. It includes viruses, spyware, and ransomware.
Ransomware – a type of malware that locks you out of your files or computer until you pay a ransom to get them back.
Denial of Service (DoS) Attack – attackers flood a website with so much traffic that it crashes and cannot be accessed by legitimate users.
Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attack – an attacker secretly intercepts and possibly alters the communication between two parties who believe they are directly communicating with each other.
Password Attacks – these involve trying to guess or steal your passwords to gain access to your account.