Network Security

Watch Out for Phishing Emails

Although Postal Service™ employees already have many duties, USPS® email account security must be a top priority. Roughly 94 percent of all malware is delivered through email. That’s why users must stay vigilant; any suspicious communications or suspected threats must be reported to the Corporate Information Security Office (CISO).

The average office employee receives nearly 100 emails each day. With so much daily volume, Postal Service employees must follow these procedures to keep USPS networks safe:

n Slow down: Pause and evaluate messages before acting. Be wary of “urgent” requests.

n Verify the sender: If the email is from an “[EXTERNAL]” address, proceed with caution.

n Hover, don’t click: Ensure all hyperlinked descriptions match their destination by hovering your mouse over the link.

n Beware of attachments: Don’t open or click on anything attached to a suspicious email.

n Spell check: Spelling and grammar mistakes often indicate a phishing attempt.

If you think you’ve received a suspicious email, report it to CISO. Select the suspicious email in your inbox — multiple messages can be selected, if necessary — and click the “Report to CyberSafe” button on the Outlook toolbar. If the email is already open, the button will appear in the email toolbar as well.

If you do not see the “Report to CyberSafe” button in your Outlook toolbar, you can install the add-on here: usps.servicenowservices.com/kb_view.do?sysparm_article=KB0046151.