Military families are already used to handling the challenges of frequent moves, deployments, and the ever-changing demands of military life. But with this mobility comes an additional challenge—keeping the family’s sensitive information safe.
Frequent relocations and deployments can leave families vulnerable to data breaches, identity theft, and other cyber threats. For military families, Operational Security (OPSEC) is more than just a buzzword—it’s a critical aspect of keeping personal and sensitive information out of the wrong hands.
Here are We Are The Mighty’s 10 essential cybersecurity tips to help military families protect their data and maintain security during moves, deployments, and everyday life:
1. Strengthen Your Passwords
The easiest way to boost cybersecurity is by using strong, unique passwords. Passwords are your first line of defense against cybercriminals. Avoid using simple or easily guessable passwords, such as birth dates or common phrases. Instead, create strong passwords that are at least 12 characters long and include a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols.
Pro Tip: Use a password manager to generate and store complex passwords. This will help you avoid the temptation of using the same password for multiple accounts, which increases the risk of a data breach.
2. Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Whenever possible, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for your accounts. This extra layer of security ensures that even if someone gets ahold of your password, they will still need access to your phone or email to complete the login process.
For military families on the move, 2FA is particularly useful, as it helps protect sensitive accounts even if devices are lost or stolen during a PCS move or deployment.
3. Beware of Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi networks—like those found at airports, hotels, or coffee shops—are convenient but often insecure. Hackers can intercept data on these networks, putting your personal information at risk.
Solution: Avoid accessing sensitive accounts (such as banking or email) over public Wi-Fi. If you need to use public Wi-Fi, always connect through a **Virtual Private Network (VPN)**, which encrypts your internet traffic and shields your data from potential cyber threats.
4. Protect Your Devices with Antivirus Software
With multiple devices in your household—laptops, tablets, smartphones—it’s essential to have up-to-date antivirus software on all of them. Antivirus programs help detect, block, and remove malware, spyware, and other malicious software that could compromise your family’s sensitive information.
Make sure all your devices are regularly updated with the latest security patches and software updates, as these updates often fix vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit.
5. Monitor Your Financial Accounts
Frequent moves and deployments can leave military families vulnerable to financial fraud and identity theft. Regularly monitoring your financial accounts and credit reports is critical to catching fraudulent activity early.
Tip: Set up account alerts with your bank and credit card companies to notify you of any suspicious activity. You can also place a **credit freeze** on your accounts during deployments to prevent unauthorized access.
6. Practice Good OPSEC (Operational Security)
OPSEC is a critical concept for military families, especially during deployments or moves. OPSEC means protecting sensitive personal and operational information to prevent adversaries from using it to harm your family or your service member’s unit.
What to Do:
Avoid sharing travel plans or deployment details on social media.
Be mindful of sharing too much information in emails or phone calls, particularly when discussing locations or timelines.
Remind your family members to maintain privacy and avoid giving away details that could compromise safety.
Pro Tip: Use secure communication tools, such as encrypted messaging apps, when sharing sensitive information.
7. Use Encrypted Cloud Storage for Important Documents
Military families often need to keep important documents—such as PCS orders, medical records, or financial information—easily accessible during moves. Instead of carrying physical copies or storing them on unprotected devices, consider using encrypted cloud storage services.
Popular cloud storage providers like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive offer encryption, but for added security, look for services that provide end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only you can access the files.
8. Back Up Your Data Regularly
With the constant movement of military life, there’s always a chance that devices can be lost, damaged, or stolen. To safeguard your family’s critical data, make sure you regularly back up your devices, including computers, tablets, and smartphones.
You can store backups on an external hard drive or use a cloud backup service. That way, even if something happens to your devices during a move or deployment, you’ll still have access to important files, photos, and information.
9. Be Cautious of Phishing Scams
Phishing attacks—where cybercriminals attempt to steal your personal information by pretending to be a legitimate entity—are one of the most common cyber threats. These scams often come in the form of emails, texts, or even phone calls, tricking you into providing sensitive information such as passwords or credit card numbers.
What to Do:
Never click on suspicious links or download attachments from unknown sources.
Verify the sender before providing any personal information.
Be particularly cautious of emails that ask for urgent action, such as resetting passwords or verifying account details.
10. Secure Your Home Network
Your home Wi-Fi network is the gateway to all your connected devices. To prevent unauthorized access, ensure your home network is secure by doing the following:
– Change the default network name (SSID) and password that came with your router.
– Use WPA3 encryption, the latest and most secure wireless encryption standard.
– Disable remote access to your router unless absolutely necessary.
By securing your home network, you’ll reduce the risk of hackers accessing your personal devices or data through an unsecured connection.
As a military family, maintaining cybersecurity can feel like another complex task in an already busy life. However, by adopting these 10 simple yet effective security measures, military families can significantly reduce the risk of cyberattacks, protect personal information, and maintain OPSEC.
Whether preparing for a PCS move or gearing up for another deployment, having a strong cybersecurity strategy will ensure that sensitive data remains secure no matter where military life leads. Stay vigilant, stay informed, and make cybersecurity a priority.