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Beginning Monday, Air Force-operated government computer users in the KMC must log off or be logged off automatically.
Network control officials are warning users that their unsaved work will be lost if the computer must automatically log off.
The new policy will enable network technicians to automatically update computers with security patches to software, which fix computer codes a hacker could exploit to gain entry into a computer or the network, said 1st Lt. Laurel Pardue, 435th Communications Squadron network control center chief.
The patches also upgrade versions of software and fix “bugs” that cause programs to function incorrectly.
The new automatic log off will occur 27 hours after a user logs on to the network. As a reminder, 24 hours after log on, the computer will prompt the user to log off with “notification bubbles,” which will become more frequent as the 27-hour mark approaches.
“The Air Force is serious about protecting our networks,” said Lieutenant Pardue. “As hackers become more advanced, we need to stay a step ahead of them to keep our network running and our information secure.”
Lieutenant Pardue said many users have information on their computers they might take for granted.
“Think of all the official use only and privacy act items on your computer and on the network. Do you ever buy anything with your credit card over the Web? Hackers can install spyware that tracks keystrokes so that even if the data transfer is secure, when you type in your password, hackers can monitor that,” she said. “It only takes one weak link to break the chain.”
For more information on the new policy, contact your workgroup manager, who can call the Ramstein Network Help Desk at 480-7250.
