The U.S. Air Force recently announced a plan that requires all users of military-issued smartphones to verify their identity with plastic ID cards linked to a reader within the device.
BlackBerry smartphones used by Air Force personnel will be placed under even greater security restrictions after an announcement made by Air Force officials last week that compared improved network security to physical security at military bases.
Users can no longer receive text messages with any form of attachment to eliminate the threat of mobile malware. A card reader will be installed into phones as well that requires all personnel to scan their Air Force-issued plastic ID cards on the phone before they can use it.
"Just as physical security measures at forward and stateside bases are constantly being improved to meet current threats, so also are cyber-protection measures taken to protect [Department of Defense] information," Richard Webber, 24th Air Force commander, said in a release.
The Air Force directly cited the possibility of enemies of the United States targeting mobile networks of the military to gain information or carry out attacks.
Using plastic ID cards to verify the identity of smartphone users in just another step of the Air Force’s security-related technology initiatives. Earlier this year, the Air Force hired IBM to develop a highly secure network for its computers.
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