Office of the Chief Information Officer      SSA Chief Information Security Officer
Date: November 29, 2010
Classified Information in the public domain
What is classified information?

Classified information is information that requires secrecy and protection from disclosure because the information could damage (or endanger) the United States.  The United States classifies docuмents based upon the amount of damage (or endangerment) the disclosure could cause.  
   
How do I know something is classified?

Classified docuмents are clearly marked at the top and bottom of each page with a classification marking of TOP SECRET, SECRET, or CONFIDENTIAL.  

What criteria is used to classify a docuмent?

Docuмents are classified TOP SECRET when their unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause “exceptionally grave damage” to national security.  Docuмents are classified SECRET when their unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause “serious damage” to national security and CONFIDENTIAL when unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause “damage” to national security.  

 Why are you telling me this?

Earlier this year a large amount of United States government classified information was illegally released to the public website WIKILEAKS.  The docuмents on WIKILEAKS could place military personnel and United States supporters in Iraq and Afghanistan at an increased risk of harm.  
Despite these docuмents being publicly accessible over the internet, the docuмents remain classified and SSA employees should not access, download, or transmit them.  Individuals may be subject to applicable federal criminal statutes for unlawful access to or transmission of classified information

yes, the ysay because computers, etc belong to the State-but, unlike private property, teh state is the pople in USA, so is not the system mine in a sense...sure, limits are put on computers (porno,etc).

Heard today the guy that founded wikileaks is being pursued by Swiss, Australians,etc...cannot confirm or deny, what I am told....

I noticed a lot mroe is blocked or filtered then used to be....