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www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 17 enemy of coronavirus, cyberthreats can't be seen until they manifest themselves in the kinetic world. But the triple threat of criminal activity, national security risks and non-state hackers is becoming all too apparent during this pandemic. As more of the world's basic commerce communications and gov- ernance goes online - for the most part on unsecured, easily tapped platforms - the cybersphere becomes an increasingly target-rich environment." GETTING THE FOUNDATIONS RIGHT Your email is the gateway to all of your information. It's also the door through which a nefarious actor can target the De- fence Forces. So use a unique password that you only use for your email. Use 'two-factor authentication' - 2FA. It will take you just minutes to set-up; all major email providers enable it. 2FA exponentially increases your cyber and information secu- rity - and therefore the security of the Defence Forces. A 'phishing' email, which pretends to be from a trusted colleague or superior, is the number one way for a nefarious actor to gain access to your computer or the Defence Forces network. If an email appears suspect, even if you have already clicked on a link or opened a file, report it directly to CIS Corps or via the IKON portal. There will never be any blame for any- one reporting a possible cyber security problem, regardless of how caused. Don't share the link to join video conferences outside your trusted network. Password protect these calls if you can, and have control over each person's entrance to the meeting. And if someone you don't know appears online question who ex- actly they are, especially if their camera is switched off. Keep your computer software up to date. All Apple and Windows systems have free built-in antivirus software so make sure this is switched on, or speak with CIS Corps if you're not sure. Be careful of any links sent to you by email or text over your phone. Just because the message says it's from your CO or sergeant, it does not mean it actually is. And never click a link claiming to be from your bank. If someone claiming to be your bank calls you to tell you about 'suspicious activity on your ac- count' it will not be your bank. No matter how convincing they sound, hang-up the phone. Be careful who you meet online and share personal information with. Cyber threats, blackmail, cyber extortion, or cyber stalking should always be reported to your Com- manding Officer. Further information is available at National Cyber Security Centre Ireland at ncsc.gov.ie And critical infor- mation for keeping your family safe online can be found at cybersafeireland.org Our cyber security can only be protected by every single person within our companies and organisations across the State being empowered to identify security challenges. And this is critical to defending the Defence Forces as we move to the 'New Normal' online environment in which we'll be work- ing, to a greater or lesser extent, for years to come. It's only by working together across departments outside our normal structures and hierarchies to identify security challenges that we can effectively secure our critical infrastructure, our cyber- space, the Defence Forces, and ultimately the State during - and in the years that follow - the COVID-19 pandemic. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dinos Kerigan-Kyrou is responsible for the cyber se- curity sector of the Joint Command & Staff Course. He is an instructor on NATO DEEP - the Defence Education Enhancement Programme - based at the Partnership for Peace Consortium of Defence

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