February 2026

Main Take-Away

Your Best Defence – Automatically generated  Passkeys,  stored in a Password Manager with 2-step verification. Use for bank accounts, accounts with your credit card information as well as email accounts.

Next Best Defence – Long random Passphrases you create with capital and small letters, numbers and special characters.

Read on for a more detailed description…

Passwords are still widely used, but they are also the most fragile option. Many websites now require passwords to be long and include uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters such as ! @ #. While these rules improve security, they often lead to hard-to-remember passwords that get reused or written down. Reuse is especially risky: if one site is breached, attackers can try the same password everywhere else. 

Passphrases are a safer and more user-friendly alternative. A passphrase uses several words combined with numbers and symbols to meet modern security rules while remaining memorable. For example:  Purple%Stapler7Volcano@Day. This kind of passphrase is long, difficult to crack, and easier to remember than a random string of characters. Length matters more than complexity alone, so choosing multiple unrelated words and adding numbers and symbols where needed provides strong protection without unnecessary frustration. 

Passkeys take a different approach by removing the need to remember multiple passwords at all. Instead of typing credentials, you approve sign-ins using biometrics (such as a fingerprint or face recognition), PIN or a master passphrase. Passkeys are not tied to a single device; they can be securely stored and synchronized across devices using trusted password managers and identity services, such as Keeper, 1Password or Bitwarden. Also there are device specific password managers like Apple Passwords app for iPhone with sync to iCloud or for Android users, Google Password Manager. Any one of these means users can sign in safely on a new phone or computer without creating or remembering multiple passwords. 

Passkeys are highly resistant to phishing and fraud because there is no password for criminals to steal or trick users into revealing. For seniors and others who may find complex passwords frustrating, passkeys can offer both stronger security and a simpler sign-in experience. 

In summary, passkeys provide the strongest and easiest protection when available. When they are not supported, long, unique passphrases with numbers and special characters—ideally still stored in a reputable password manager—are the next best choice. Traditional passwords should be used carefully and always strengthened with length, uniqueness, and additional security options whenever possible. 

NOTICE: Changes to Zurich Office Hours

Effective February 1st, 2026 our Zurich office will be closed on Monday’s and Friday’s.

We’re still here for you the rest of the week, and our two other locations remain open as usual, offering the same great service and familiar faces.

For your convenience, each office has a secure drop box available for use at any time.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support—we truly appreciate our community and look forward to seeing you soon.