Skip to main content

Evidently, the Pentagon has a porn problem

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Everyone surfs the Web while on the job for non-work related things; we’ve all innocently watched viral YouTube videos or window shopped for a new pair of shoes in hopes of a quick mental break. A huge taboo is, of course, being brazen enough to access pornographic websites while using work computers. So when it was revealed that the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency has a porn surfing problem, we can’t tell whether this is rather appropriate or totally hilarious.

Addressing the MDA in a one-page memo, Executive Director John James Jr. warned employees that traces of inappropriate use of the corporate network have been identified over the past few months.

“Specifically, there have been instances of employees and contractors accessing websites, or transmitting messages, containing pornographic or sexually explicit images,” James wrote in the July 27 memo, reports Bloomberg News who obtained the memo. “These actions are not only unprofessional, they reflect time taken away from designated duties, are in clear violation of federal and DoD and regulations, consume network resources and can compromise the security of the network though the introduction of malware or malicious code.”

Evidently, accessing porn at work is not only against the general office behavior guidelines, it puts the MDA and the Pentagon at cyber security risk. Bloomberg News reports that employees have been downloading material from sites that contained malware and viruses, making the MDA network susceptible to data theft by foreign intelligence services. These materials can be anything from photos, videos, or sound clips that have been embedded with malicious codes to open network ports and steal confidential information.

Individuals who have been found to violate office rules will be suspended and possibly removed by the MDA, claiming that their actions put “security clearances in jeopardy.”

“The seriousness of the potential breach to operations cannot be overstated,” James wrote, noting that “network systems are subject to monitoring at all times.”

So there you have it, folks. If the Pentagon faces a cyber security issue every time someone access pornographic material, you might want to think twice about what you’re also putting at risk each time you download such material — whether from your job or a personal computer. In the meantime, stick to safer types of porn, such as an International Space Station observance, perhaps?

Editors' Recommendations

Natt Garun
Former Digital Trends Contributor
An avid gadgets and Internet culture enthusiast, Natt Garun spends her days bringing you the funniest, coolest, and strangest…
How to change your language in Google Chrome on desktop
Chrome OS

Google Chrome supports a wide range of languages. While it'll default to English in most cases, there's nothing stopping you from changing its settings and displaying pages in Spanish, French, or dozens of other languages.

Changing your default language in Chrome takes only a few seconds, and the technique used is the same across Windows and Mac. Aside from changing your language, note that Chrome now gives you the option to automatically translate pages written in another language – making it easy to read content from around the globe.

Read more
23 of the best Netflix hacks, tips, and tricks
The Netflix home screen.

Netflix is one of the most popular streaming platforms for all things movies and TV shows. Home to an immense library of titles, the Netflix archive is constantly changing and evolving, and so are the many ways you can use your Netflix account. 

For instance, did you know you can access region-locked Netflix shows and flicks by using a VPN? Or that you can disable that pesky Autoplay feature? There are tons of Netflix hacks, tips, and tricks out there, so we’ve gone ahead and rounded up all of our favorites! 
Expand your streaming with a VPN

Read more
How to make a GIF from a YouTube video
woman sitting and using laptop

Sometimes, whether you're chatting with friends or posting on social media, words just aren't enough -- you need a GIF to fully convey your feelings. If there's a moment from a YouTube video that you want to snip into a GIF, the good news is that you don't need complex software to so it. There are now a bunch of ways to make a GIF from a YouTube video right in your browser.

If you want to use desktop software like Photoshop to make a GIF, then you'll need to download the YouTube video first before you can start making a GIF. However, if you don't want to go through that bother then there are several ways you can make a GIF right in your browser, without the need to download anything. That's ideal if you're working with a low-specced laptop or on a phone, as all the processing to make the GIF is done in the cloud rather than on your machine. With these options you can make quick and fun GIFs from YouTube videos in just a few minutes.
Use GIFs.com for great customization
Step 1: Find the YouTube video that you want to turn into a GIF (perhaps a NASA archive?) and copy its URL.

Read more