KMC increases awareness on cyber threats

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dymekre Allen
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Ramstein hosted a special cyber safety and cyber bullying session offered to parents in the KMC at the Hercules Theater.

The class helped teach parents how to keep children safe while online.

David Rubal, certified security information specialist, visited to give his expert opinion on the attacks that have been taking place in the Ramstein community.

Due to continuously advancing technology anyone who owns a cell phone or computer and uses social networking sites can be vulnerable to cyber attacks or web bullying.

"Anywhere you can see, share or post information can be hacked," said Rubal. "But it's that awareness of cyber attacks and what signs to look for that can keep you protected."

There are programs that cause spam and pop-ups, which allow attackers to gain personal information from social media sites. They can even access personal email accounts to obtain personally identifiable information.

"The second you put personal information on the web ... you don't own it anymore," said Rubal.

It's important to improve the defensive capabilities from any attack by avoiding unauthorized websites, managing passwords, recognizing dangers and practicing safer downloading activities, he said.

"We can all do it," said Rubal. "By micromanaging the sites we visit and saying no to those websites that give away all that free stuff we can protect our families."

Rubal said these kinds of attacks can happen to anyone but most commonly target teens, because they are more likely to visit vulnerable sites.

The parents of the children who were victimized took a stand for their children by starting small organizations dedicated to defending and catching the individuals who endangered their cyber safety.

"I'm not going to stand for it," said Thomas Tiggs, a parent who attended the briefing. "It's good that the base holds these kinds of events because parents aren't going put up with these kinds of attacks to their families anymore."

Rubal will conduct several sessions to middle and high school students throughout the KMC to ensure parents and their children are aware of all cyber issues.