Websites I Frequently Visit

MyPay - https://mypay.dfas.mil/mypay.aspx

Craigslist - https://sandiego.craigslist.org/

MyPay is the Defense Finance and Accounting Service website utilized by active, reserve, and retired military service members along with Department of Defense civilian employee’s website that provides a secured accessible electronic database housing leave and earnings statement, tax records, and a host of other payroll related files.  Craigslist is an electronic “classifieds” website used for all the purposes associated with newspaper classified sections in items for sale, employment opportunities, and a host of others.

My primary purpose for the use of MyPay is to review documents associated with my military retired pay.  There are very few alternatives to this website to procure the information that I regularly seek regarding my retired pay.  None of the other available sites combine all of the elements related to military retired pay into a single secured website.

The MyPay website is devoid of personality and looks very much like standard government issue with little to no frills.  Form definitely follows function but the various elements are displayed in a logical sequence in a complete menu list.  There is a simplicity to the website that is appreciated by those who are directive communicators and do not require fluff.

I believe that MyPay is not as secure as it could be.  Like most secured websites that require the use of member names and passwords, MyPay requires user to provide a non-customizable list of responses to security questions like “What is your mother’s maiden name” or “What was the first concert you attended.”  However, if you inquire with MyPay and indicate that you do not know the password or the security question responses they will still enable you to have a new password sent to an email address you have on record with them.  If your email has been compromised, your MyPay account is extremely vulnerable.  A hacker could easily redirect your monthly electronic pay to an account of their choosing.

The Craigslist website is relatively simple but does have a bit of a learning curve to use efficiently.  It is not intuitive and there isn’t much logical sequencing in the steps.  It is close to bare bones in its appearance which seems to be by design to closely resemble a newspaper classified section.  It’s not the only game in town but it has emerged as the national industry leader in classified articles.

Craigslist does a good job of providing anonymity to its users and shields them from hackers.  However, the website could do more to provided warnings to users of the dangers associated with conducting business transactions with unknown persons in places that have higher degrees of vulnerability in potentially hostile conflict.