Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Air Force Launches Encrypted IM Service

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the messages-flying dept.

nomrniceguy writes "U.S. Air Force's Print News Today announces a new instant messaging service for enlisted people stationed abroad to communicate with their families and loved ones. Users cannot send images, audio or other documents through the system. Messages are also encrypted to prevent unauthorized access."

9 of 182 comments (clear)

  1. UUcode anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Can't send pictures, huh?

    1. Re:UUcode anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      I'm in the air force and I been deployed and will be deployed for at least half of my air force carrer.

      the reason for this is there is this thing called general order number 1 which bans pornography in a warzone, I've seen people get artical 15's because of this.

      article 15=bad disciplinary action.

  2. No images? by Martin+Blank · · Score: 3, Informative

    Anyone have a copy of uuencode laying around for them?

    --
    You can never go home again... but I guess you can shop there.
  3. RTFA: Not a launch by IO+ERROR · · Score: 4, Informative

    This instant messaging service has been in use for a couple of years now. However it was limited to military and contractors. Now it's open to family members. The airman has to sponsor you by entering in your email address, and then you receive login instructions.

    --
    How am I supposed to fit a pithy, relevant quote into 120 characters?
  4. Re:Security of the client machines being used by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Sounds like a use for Metropipe.
    http://pvpm.metropipe.net/
    No admin rights needed, BTW.
    All it needs is a virtual keyboard.

  5. Re:Encryption? by Jeffery · · Score: 2, Informative

    Conventional IM programs are not authorized for use on Air Force Systems. This program is the only way for us when we are overseas to communicate back home in an IM way. and yes, i am in the air force, and used this program during my stint in Iraq/Oman.

    --
    President Bush Supporter
  6. Re:Censored? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Like anything else on a government box isn't subject to monitoring. Sheesh.
    LART thyself like a baby harp seal for that post.
    We are, BTW, not allowed to use USAF computers without signing off that we know the ROE for using an Air Force computer system. Most airmen have official email accounts as well, and IM only augments these. Official email DOES support attachments, and most accounts are accessable from the internet. Furthermore, sending photos of anything not classified or from which x'fied info can be easily derived is quite legal under the UCMJ.
    If I wanted to ensure copies of anything got spread, I'd just forward them to my buddies like any other email and they'd be in inboxes worldwide, and on Ogrish shortly after.

  7. Re:Perhaps... by The+Snowman · · Score: 2, Informative

    Keep in mind this is the Air Force. We don't have Soldiers, we have Airmen. We don't fight on the front lines, for the most part we fly desks far far away from the bad guys. The closest I've been to combat is watching it on CNN from the comfort of my home on base.

    Anyway, I have seen a few pictures from digital cameras from deployed Airmen. For the most part we all practice good OPSEC and I have yet to see a picture I shouldn't have.

    --
    24 beers in a case, 24 hours in a day. Coincidence? I think not!
  8. yes by Errtu76 · · Score: 2, Informative

    OS, Web Server and Hosting History for www.my.af.mil
    http://www.my.af.mil was running AkamaiGHost on Linux when last queried at 24-Dec-2004 05:38:53 GMT