News

Stay safe and protected while playing Pokemon Go

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman William Johnson
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

As the latest mobile app game, Pokemon Go, is sweeping the nation, some of its users are experiencing unwanted side effects from the game.

Pokemon Go is a free-to-play location-based augmented reality mobile game that allows users to travel to various locations to capture, battle and train virtual creatures who appear throughout the real world. The game accesses the user’s device’s GPS and camera to direct players to nearby Pokemon, PokeStops and Pokemon gyms.

Since the game’s release, there have been numerous reports of players being injured from not paying attention to their surroundings. Injuries include anything from tripping and falling over objects, to being struck by motor vehicles, to vehicle collisions.

“[The] Pokemon Go game is a new trend, and there’s a couple of different safety tips I would like to mention,” said Lorie Bellamy, 436th Airlift Wing Safety Office occupational safety manager. “First of all, keep in mind that if you’re in uniform you’re not authorized to play the game while walking around. However, if you’re out of uniform and walking around, situational awareness is key to your safety. There have been situations where people are distracted, and they walk into traffic and get struck by a vehicle. Also, since we have restricted areas here on Dover, you could very well wander into one if you’re not paying attention.”

Service members also need to manage more than just safety risks while catching Pokemon. Special Agent Brandon Mejia, Air Force Office of Special Investigation Detachment 306, said the app also poses some security risks that can leave service members’ personal identifiable information vulnerable.

“Some of the negative aspects of downloading Pokemon Go is a military member could lead individuals into getting their PII (Personal Identifiable Information) from the app,” said Mejia. “Everything on the internet is tracked and you’re opening up your GPS app as well as your pictures, which can all be compromised due to the security features that these companies are not able to place on the app because of its wide use.”

Mejia also suggested users ensure their Google+ accounts, needed to sign up for the game, are not connected to any other personal accounts, as this could comprise sensitive information stored on those accounts.

Be aware of what information may be available through images or location tagging while playing the game. Any app which requires access to your photos and other content on your phone, but is not monitored by the Department of Defense may result in potential operational security violations. Remember, base security is always a priority.