The Postal Service™ wants employees and contractors to protect their USPS-issued mobile devices against hackers when they travel. Mobile devices such as your USPS® smart phone, laptop, or tablet offer flexibility, improve communications and collaboration, and help increase productivity in the workplace. However, taking the devices when on travel poses several risks.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), 115.2 million people traveled during the 2023 holiday season, and workplace mobile devices were among the items packed in those vacation bags.
If you decide to take your USPS mobile devices home for the holidays, remember to follow cybersafe best practices. It is your responsibility to always keep USPS devices safe, to avoid data loss and damage the reputation of stakeholders and the Postal Service brand.
To keep your mobile devices secure while you travel, follow these CyberSafe at USPS® tips:
n Bring only essential mobile devices so it’s easier to keep track of their location.
n Keep your device locked using a PIN, password, fingerprint, or face ID.
n Back up all your devices so you can recover your data if needed.
n Use your smartphone’s personal hotspot feature or a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for a trusted and secure Wi-Fi connection at airports, hotels, or cafes.
For more information on mobile device security, go to the Monthly Campaign Page on Blue at blue.usps.gov/cyber/communications.htm#accordion1s4.
— Corporate Information Security Office,
Chief Information Office, 11-28-24
