Defense

Navy warns US sailors to secure social media from Iran online threats

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by Ellen Mitchell - 04/20/26 2:49 PM ET

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by Ellen Mitchell - 04/20/26 2:49 PM ET

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The Navy is advising sailors to secure their electronic devices, social media accounts and personal information as the U.S-Israeli war in Iran has increased online threats to service members.

In an unclassified memo to Navy personnel, Secretary John Phelan warns of “adversary cyber actors” looking to “psychologically influence” sailors and their families as well as get them to open potentially malicious links and files.

“In response to Operation EPIC FURY, adversary cyber actors are conducting a social engineering campaign actively targeting Department of the Navy (DON) personnel and their families via spear phishing and social media contacts,” according to the April 17 memo.

The Navy also advises sailors to “beware of dating or other apps that encourage or require the use/sharing of personal information;” to be wary of and research strangers attempting to contact them; and to set their accounts to the “highest level” of privacy on social media.

In addition, the service urges personnel to scrub their online personal identifiable information found in search engines like Google, and turn off phone applications’ access to location tracking, microphone, and camera.

Sailors also are asked to make their passwords to accounts more complex or set up multi-factor authentication, to be mindful of what they post online and request that friends and family limit information and images they may post about them.

The advisory comes after several cyber-related incidents targeting U.S. troops in the Middle East, including a March message to forces that appeared to be official guidance from U.S. Cyber Command warning troops to turn off location services – a notice that the command said it didn’t send.

Current Pentagon policies already limit service members’ official activity on personal devices but the Navy notice is taking it a step further in asking sailors to curtail their online activity.

The notice asks sailors to turn off Bluetooth and WiFi connections when they’re not using their phones or other electronic devices, avoid public Wifi connections and regularly update applications as they “often fix bugs/vulnerabilities that cyber actors try to exploit,” according to the memo.

“Pause online posts if able; if unable, be mindful of what you post online. Does the background of your pictures include clues about you, your friends/family, your home, your location, your activities?” the memo reads.

The Trump administration said it was set to hold talks with Iran on Monday, but it’s unclear if Tehran will come to the table as Washington continues its blockade on the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. seizure of an Iranian cargo ship on Sunday.

President Trump has threatened that the U.S. will resume attacks on Iran if there is no agreement.

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