01.05.2023 - Stolen user data is often at the origin of a cyberattack. Strong passwords can prevent considerable damage. The National Cybersecurity Centre (NCSC), Swiss Crime Prevention (SCP) and the cantonal and city police forces, with the support of the internet security platform iBarry and "eBanking – but secure!" (EBAS), will be conducting a national awareness campaign on password security in May.
A strong password must be at least twelve characters long and contain both lower and upper case letters, numbers and special characters. In addition, the password must not appear in any dictionary. Such passwords are difficult to remember – this is especially true if, as recommended, a separate password is used for each application. This is why passwords like "hello" or "123456" are still among the most frequently used passwords in Switzerland. Weak passwords like these make it easy for cybercriminals to hack user data and misuse it for illegal purposes. In the latest campaign, the security authorities and their partner organisations will highlight the dangers of weak passwords and show how to best protect your accounts.
Technical tools support cybersecurity
In order to create a strong password for each account and to manage your passwords securely, so-called password managers provide helpful support. Users only have to remember one strong password, the one for the password manager. Security is enhanced by two-factor or multi-factor authentication. This means that in addition to the knowledge factor – the password – other factors such as biometric data, e.g. fingerprint or Face ID, are also used.
National awareness campaign on password security
From 1 May, the NCSC, the SCP and the cantonal and city police forces, with the support of iBarry and EBAS, will be raising awareness among the Swiss population about the importance of strong passwords. Tongue-in-cheek, it will be made clear that simple passwords, particularly those written on sticky notes, are very tempting for cybercriminals. On the campaign website S-U-P-E-R.ch, educational videos provide further information. With the acquired knowledge and a bit of luck, you will not only increase your cybersecurity, but could also win a competition prize. The campaign will run until 31 May 2023.
Last modification 01.05.2023
