Talk:Operations security

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Operations Security vs Operational Security

This article equates Operations Security with Operational Security. However, they are two distinct processes and concepts. The grugq references are about Operational Security, or computer and technical security procedures. Recommend deletion of the third introductory paragraph. SSGnono (talk) 02:05, 16 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Because the information is factually inaccurate beyond a reasonable doubt according to the provided source, I will remove that paragraph. — Preceding unsigned comment added by SSGnono (talk • contribs) 02:26, 16 June 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Came here to post my surprise that operational security isn't mentioned at all in this article. What's the difference between operations security and operational security? And do we think that operations security is the WP:COMMONNAME? Google says operations security has 1.4 million results, and operational security has 6.4 million results. –Novem Linguae (talk) 00:38, 21 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Sticking to "operations security" for being the 'original' term used to describe the concept makes some sense, but I do agree that "operational security" may appear to be more appropriate, since it's seemingly the more popular term used now. I don't see much use in trying to distinguish the terms from one another. I see computer security as an application of security methods and procedures, just like how it can be applied to real life operations, whether it be done by a military or an activist direct action group (in fact, there is lots of media and resources made about operational security measures specifically for taking activist actions). I don't think splitting hairs over the use of the different terms based on what opsec is applied to is that meaningful. Nowadays, they're pretty much interchangeable in how they are used and applied. Farmers-Market-Menace (talk) 19:40, 13 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Agree with Novem Linguae -- operational is the overwhelming WP:COMMONNAME (and tbh almost certainly even more likely to be referred to by the acronym directly).⇒SWATJester ^{Shoot Blues, Tell VileRat!} 20:54, 13 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I spot checked some of this article's sources just now, and the two I could get to load say "operations security". So I don't think we can change the title yet. However we could certainly add some new cited material to the article talking about "operational security". –Novem Linguae (talk) 21:26, 18 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Reference 1 Inaccessible ("PURPLE DRAGON: The Formations of OPSEC")

The Wayback Machine archives for the first reference all redirect to a 404 or other error page. It appears to be entirely inaccessible with no readily available archive.

The closest thing I found that has an identical title is this PDF from the-eye.eu, which is just a one-page PDF scraped from a random long-dead website containing an unattributed blurb and a reference to the NSA declassified document. I unfortunately can't find any official government release page describing the document that could serve as a substitute and isn't just that same PDF document again.

Unrelated - it doesn't fit as a replacement for Ref1, but perhaps this post from the Joint Base San Antonio website can make for a good "further reading" resource: OPSEC history: from ancient origins to modern challenges Farmers-Market-Menace (talk) 20:52, 13 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]