ARLINGTON, Va. (AFRNS) -- Another new security feature has been added to protect customers' data on the pay account system, myPay officials announced May 9. As part of an ongoing commitment to strengthen password and account security to protect customers' data, Defense Finance and Accounting Service has implemented the "virtual keyboard" to assist in protecting against malicious software such as spyware, trojans and keylogging.

The virtual keyboard is available now. Each time a user arrives at myPay to log on, the virtual keyboard will appear on the screen. The user will type in their login identification and then the user will "press" the keys on the screen by clicking on them with their mouse to enter their Personal Identification Number instead of typing the actual keys. The virtual keyboard is to be used only for the user's PIN.

To enhance security, the keyboard layout changes or keys are displayed randomly every time the page is refreshed.

"This is a significant move toward adding yet another layer of security to our myPay system," said Pat Shine, director of operations for DFAS. "We want to reassure our customers that we are proactively working to secure their pay account information."

DFAS uses a variety of security features to protect data on the myPay system, yet officials ask that customers do everything they can to protect data from being compromised or captured on home computers. Under frequently asked questions on the myPay home page (https://mypay.dfas.mil) customers can find more information on steps to secure home computers.

To login to myPay using the Virtual Keyboard:

1. Type the login ID under Account Access on the home page.
2. Next, click on the numbers and letters (if using a restricted access PIN) of the PIN using the mouse and virtual keyboard on the screen. (Each number and/or letter will appear as an asterisk in the textbox above the virtual keyboard.) When finished, click the "GO" button.
3. Once in myPay, users will continue to navigate as usual.