Have you ever used the same passphrase for multiple accounts? If you have, did you know that you’re putting yourself and possibly the United States Postal Service® (USPS®) network at risk of a cybersecurity breach?
It’s been proven that password reuse is a leading cause of account compromise. So, while difficult, create a strong and unique passphrase with a mix of the following:
- Memorable words,
- Numbers, and
- Symbols.
And create unique PINs with short numeric codes for each account to protect sensitive USPS information and prevent cybercriminals from stealing the organization’s data.
The CyberSafe at USPS® team advises employees and contractors to follow these best practices regarding PINs and passphrases:
- Create strong unique passphrases and PINs. Use 15-character length passphrases and complex PINs that do not include your birthdate or sequential numbers like 1234.
- Don’t share your credentials. Never write down PINs and passphrases or share your login information. Make sure to cover your PIN or passphrase when entering it.
- Don’t save your passwords in browsers. Not all browsers store usernames and passwords securely.
For additional guidance about the policy on passphrases, please refer to the Management Instruction on Password Complexity at blue.usps.gov/cpim/ftp/manage/as8002210/as8002210_tech_005.htm.
For additional information on passphrases, visit the Monthly Awareness Campaigns page on Blue at blue.usps.gov/cyber/comms-2023-archive.htm#accordion1s8.
Postal Bulletin – June 26, 2025
Source: USPS