Tri-Service

10 Ways To Stay Safe Online In The Forces

Lincolnshire Police is warning the families of Armed Forces members to be careful about what they put on social media.

It comes after a threatening letter was allegely sent to a forces family in the county from a group calling themselves 'The Circle of Allah'.

The Ministry of Defence is aware of the threat and is working with Lincolnshire police.

But in a world where more than a dozen countries are now thought to be capable of mounting major cyber attacks, what can members of the British Armed Forces do to keep their personal information secure on social media?

That's just what the Ministry of Defence's Twitter page @SoldierUK is aiming to teach serving personnel.

Here's a selection of its best pieces of advice for proper social media use.

1) Protecting your personal information and preventing your location being revealed:

Cadets. You may be proud of your 'rank' & profile pictures, but add it to your geotagged posts & poor #PerSec & you're not being very smart!
— SoldierUK (@SoldierUK) January 13, 2015

2) Maintaining operational security:

Posting your flight times home from operations on social media. Not the brightest of ideas is it? #OpSec pic.twitter.com/FANlnfv2cL
— SoldierUK (@SoldierUK) January 11, 2015

3) Social media advice for friends and family of serving personnel:

Friends & family. Think before sharing ... • Names • Photographs • Service details • Movements ... & don't risk the safety of loved ones.
— SoldierUK (@SoldierUK) January 10, 2015

4) Refraining from publicly supporting groups that could cost you your job:

Public support for extreme political groups is contrary to military values & standards, & may cost you your career. #THINK
— SoldierUK (@SoldierUK) January 10, 2015

5) Denying terrorists publicity:

Terrorists want their films to go viral, as that for them is mission accomplished. Deny them the advantage - Don't share!
— SoldierUK (@SoldierUK) January 7, 2015

Now we're halfway through, have a look at how harmful sharing the wrong details online can be:

6) Securing your social media privacy settings:

Want to secure your social media privacy settings? Advice: https://t.co/1uQD3c6Uci
— SoldierUK (@SoldierUK) January 5, 2015

7) How poor social media use can affect you and your career:

Remember. What goes online, stays online. Forever. pic.twitter.com/8Af31yUcwD
— SoldierUK (@SoldierUK) December 31, 2014

8) Why burglars have been keeping an eye on social media:

Don't home to an empty tree this Christmas https://t.co/eBaOVygprn #GetSafeOnline pic.twitter.com/pNqSXiyHOw #PerSec #InfoSec
— SoldierUK (@SoldierUK) December 23, 2014

9) What information shouldn't be public?

Full name in online bio ✔ Location tagged posts ✔ Occupation details ✔ Personal photos ✔ Still feel safe? pic.twitter.com/I9XHeLS0nt
— SoldierUK (@SoldierUK) December 22, 2014

10) Preventing identity theft:

Imagine the chaos & destruction someone could create in your name. https://t.co/K14f7p5xKc Don't become a clone: https://t.co/4uXikUHFxV
— SoldierUK (@SoldierUK) December 15, 2014