USPS® wants to provide employees and contractors with tips to protect their USPS-issued mobile devices against hackers.
These devices — which include smart phones, laptops, and tablets — offer flexibility, improve communications and collaboration, and help increase productivity at USPS.
However, if they are not secured, these devices become susceptible to threats such as malware (blue.usps.gov/cyber/malware), which could disrupt mail processes, cause data loss, and damage the reputation of stakeholders and the Postal Service™ brand.
The CyberSafe at USPS® team recommends taking the following actions to protect your USPS-issued mobile device from cyberattacks:
n Use strong passphrases with a minimum of eight characters.
n Keep up with all required software updates.
n Don‘t click on any suspicious links.
n Always use a virtual private network, or VPN, to connect to the internet.
n Avoid using public Wi-Fi to access the Internet, including hotel and airline inflight Wi-Fi.
n Avoid clicking on text messages with URLs from numbers not on your contacts list.
n Back up data stored on mobile devices.
For USPS policy about mobile device security, refer to Handbook AS-805 Use of Information Security (blue.usps.gov/cpim/ftp/hand/as805c/as508c_v11_508_014.htm).
For more information, visit USPS Blue (blue.usps.gov/cyber); or LiteBlue (liteblue.usps.gov/cyber). For the Monthly Awareness Campaigns, visit blue.usps.gov/cyber/communications.htm.
— Corporate Information Security Office,
Chief Information Security Officer, 7-11-24
