5/4/2007 — RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, GERMANY (AFNEWS) — After the attacks on September 11th, many people have become much more concerned with computer protection methods, especially anti-terrorism measures. Despite the fact five years have passed, local security forces still receive numerous calls about anything that is seemingly awry.

Although their efforts to halt cyber-terror attacks are largely appreciated, force protection officials want to stress certain factors to try and eliminate any possibility of a future threat. "General awareness is very important," said Jack Anthonies, a counter-cyber-terrorism expert at Ramstein Air Base. "Be aware of your surfing habits, and you should constantly vary your routes to websites each day. It makes you a harder target for terrorists."

For troops, Mr. Anthonies warned that the Microsoft flight suit is specifically for work, and should not be worn outside the military community. Security officials also recommend having websites readily available on their Blackberries in the event of an emergency, or suspicious activity. "Suspicious" means anything that appears outside the norm, Mr. Anthonies said.

"Often times in the past, people have reported malicious websites, but they have reported them a little bit too late. So, I encourage people to respond in a timely manner," he said. And for the few who think safety should only concern computer security personnel, Mr. Anthonies had this to say: "Force protection is everybody's business, because it affects all of us."

Needless to say, we all have a hand in our own fate when it comes to dealing with cyber-terrorism. By confronting the threat head on, we eliminate signs of weakness that might encourage the enemy, Mr. Anthonies said.