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Ist dein Passwort ein Generalschlüssel? Passwörter, Passkeys & 2FA im Überblick

Is your password a master key?

JanineZ · 2025-10-02T12:00:00+00:00

[article-lead]Every year, weak passwords such as ‘123456’, ‘password’ and ‘qwerty’ top the lists of the most used passwords in Switzerland. It often takes just seconds to hack combinations like these. This article gives clear, concise and practical recommendations to help keep your accounts protected to the latest standards. [/article-lead] ## **Length beats complexity: the power of the passphrase** We used to think the more special characters, the better. Now, however, we know that a long, memorable password is much more secure than a short, cryptic character string. * **Complicated but unsafe:** Ytmwigr@64 is hard to remember and generally shorter than recommended. * **Simple and secure:** MySailingBoatIsBlueAndSafe2025 is long, easy to remember and hard to hack. Using a passphrase containing several words is the best way of remembering a strong password. Aim for at least 16 characters. ## **Password manager: your digital vault** A password manager is the practical solution for most online services. It creates and maintains a strong, unique password for every account. You only need to remember one strong master password – ideally a long passphrase. **Tip for Swisscom customers:** We also offer a password manager as part of the *[Identity Security](https://www.swisscom.ch/en/residential/internet-subscription/protection-security.html)* app. ## **Passkeys in brief** Passkeys are the modern successor to passwords. Instead of a password that you need to remember, your device (e.g. smartphone or computer) stores a unique cryptographic key. * **Phishing resistant:** There is no longer a password for fraudsters to steal. * **Convenient:** Simply sign in with your fingerprint, face ID or device PIN. * **Secure:** The secret part of the key never leaves your device. **To get started:** If a website or app offers you the option to “Sign in with a passkey”, accept it. **Important:** Make sure you keep a backup (e.g. using your Apple/Google cloud account), so that you won’t be locked out if you switch device or an error occurs. A rapidly growing number of Swiss services, such as **[SwissID](https://www.swissid.ch/en/)**, already support passkeys. ## **Maximise your security in 5 easy steps** 1. **Unique login credentials:** For each individual service, use a long, unique passphrase or let a password manager create a strong password for you. Use passkeys wherever the option is offered. 2. **Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA/2FA):** Protect your accounts with a second factor. Ideally use an authenticator app (e.g. Google/Microsoft Authenticator). Use SMS only as a last resort. 3. **Make use of a password manager:** It saves typing, prevents password reuse and generates highly secure combinations. 4. **Secure critical accounts first:** Start with the most important accounts: your e-mail login, online banking, cloud storage and your main accounts (Apple, Google, Microsoft). 5. **Use biometrics:** Where possible, enable fingerprint or face ID scans. This is a convenient and secure method for daily use ## **FAQs: Common misconceptions** * **Do I still need special characters?** No, a long, memorable passphrase is significantly stronger. CoffeeCupInTheMorning2025 is better than C@ff33!. * **Can I use the same password for everything?** No! If you do, all your accounts will be at risk in the event of a data leak from just one service. * **Is SMS-based 2FA a good idea?** Only as a last resort. SMS codes can be intercepted by criminals (e.g. by means of SIM swapping). Authenticator apps are much more secure. * **Are passkeys really more secure?** Yes, they are resistant to phishing attacks and password theft and they are the future standard for secure authentication. [card-links] ## **Useful links** * [Our Security & Service products](https://www.swisscom.ch/en/residential/internet/protection-security.html) * [How to protect yourself from scams on the internet](https://www.swisscom.ch/en/residential/help/security/spam-phishing-internetbetrug.html) * [Two-factor authentication for your Swisscom login](https://www.swisscom.ch/en/residential/help/bill-and-contract/the-swisscom-login.html) * [Passkeys – the key to a password-free future](https://community.swisscom.ch/d/811244-passkeys-der-schlussel-zu-einer-passwortlosen-zukunft) [/card-links] **Do you have any tips for the Community?** What can you tell us about your experience with passwords, managers or passkeys? Share in the comments!

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