Ian Robertson
Why Passwords Are No Longer Enough
Sarah thought she was careful. She used long, complex passwords for all her accounts. One morning, she received a text from what looked like her bank. It warned of suspicious activity and asked her to log in. The link took her to a website that looked exactly like her bank’s site. Believing it was real, she entered her login and password. Within hours, cybercriminals had drained $2,000 from her account.
Sarah had fallen victim to a smishing attack. Even though her password was strong, it didn’t matter-she handed it over. Worse, she had reused that password across other accounts, putting her email, shopping, and streaming services at risk.
The lesson: strong passwords are not always enough to protect against today’s cyber threats.
The Future of Logging In
Enter Passkeys. If you’ve ever felt frustrated by remembering passwords, juggling password managers, or using texted codes to verify your identity, passkeys are designed to solve these problems. They’re not only simpler but also more secure.
Passkeys use cryptographic keys stored securely on your device. When you set up a passkey, your device creates a unique key for that specific website. Unlike passwords, this key can’t be reused across multiple accounts.
To log in, you don’t type a password. Instead, you confirm your identity with biometrics like a fingerprint or facial recognition. This process is both faster and safer because your biometric information never leaves your device.
How Passkeys Improve Security
Passkeys eliminate many of the risks that make passwords vulnerable:
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No password reuse: Every website gets a unique key.
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Resistant to phishing: Attackers can’t trick you into entering a passkey on a fake site.
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Simpler authentication: No more remembering dozens of complex logins.
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Local control: Biometric data never leaves your device.
For businesses in Victoria and across the Capital Regional District, adopting passkeys can reduce the risk of staff falling for phishing or smishing attacks like Sarah did.
What to Expect When Using Passkeys
Passkeys are still being rolled out, so websites may use them differently. Some might still require a password as a backup, while others will let you log in entirely with your passkey.
If you encounter a site that asks for both, make sure your backup password is still strong and unique. Over time, as more services adopt passkeys, you’ll rely less on passwords altogether.
Why Businesses Should Pay Attention
Small and medium businesses in Victoria often face the same cybersecurity challenges as larger companies but without dedicated IT teams. Employees wear many hats, and security can easily slip through the cracks.
By enabling passkeys where possible, businesses can:
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Reduce login-related help desk calls.
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Protect accounts from phishing attacks.
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Simplify access for staff without sacrificing security.
The technology is designed to be both user-friendly and resilient against modern cybercrime tactics.
About Robertson Technology Group
Robertson Technology Group helps small and medium businesses in Victoria and across Canada strengthen their technology and cybersecurity. As a local partner, RTGroup understands the challenges SMBs face-balancing limited resources while needing strong protection against cyber threats. From adopting secure tools like passkeys to ongoing support and managed IT services, the team ensures businesses stay productive and protected. With a focus on relationships, right-fit solutions, and continuous evaluation of new tools, Robertson Technology Group makes security and technology management easier so business owners can focus on growth.
