It will probably come as no surprise to you that the most popular PINs are very predictable.
Recent research has identified the most popular PINs; if yours is on this list, it might be time to update it.
Serious credit fraud situation
Theft of credit, debit, and other payment cards cost the UK alone a whopping £556.3 million in 2022, demonstrating the growing problem of credit card fraud.
The average fraudulent account lost £204, according to finder.com, underlining the significant financial impact on people. Using weak and easy-to-guess PINs exacerbates this pervasive problem. You can greatly reduce your chances of falling victim to this type of scam by avoiding these typical dangers.
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Reasons why weak PINs are a serious risk
Jake Moore, Global Cyber ​​Security Advisor at ESET, explains the risks of using basic or easy-to-guess PINs. “Using easy-to-guess passcodes makes it easier for attackers to target people,” he told MailOnline. Because they are easier to remember, many people use PIN codes that are associated with their personal information, such as birthdays or anniversaries.
But they are seriously threatened by this approach. “People put themselves at risk by having weak passwords and PINs, and often don’t fully understand the threat until they’re compromised,” Moore said. To avoid relying on easy-to-remember numbers, he suggests using password managers that not only store but also generate strong, random access codes.
The most frequently used PIN numbers
The most popular PIN numbers were determined by a study by data website Information is Beautiful, which examined 3.4 million data points from multiple data breaches.
The most common offenders are:
The numbers are 1234 1111 0000 1212 7777 1004 2000 4444 2222 6969.
We strongly recommend that you immediately change your PIN to a more secure one if it appears on this list.
PINs that are not used often
On the other hand, the investigation also turned up the least popular PINs, which are much more difficult for hackers to detect.
These consist of 8557, 8438, 9539, 7063, 6827, 0859, 6793, 0738, 6835 and 8093.
You can greatly improve your security by using one of these PINs or a comparable unique combination.
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The value of maintaining password hygiene
A significant weakness is not only weak PIN but also passwords that can be easily discovered.
According to a survey published by NordPass in 2021, “123456” was the most popular and weakest password. Strong passwords are essential, according to NordPass CEO Jonas Karklys: “Passwords are the gateway to our digital lives, and as we spend more and more time online, it’s extremely important to take better care of our cyber security.”
The most dangerous passwords
The 25 weakest passwords found by NordPass are as follows:
I love you 654321 666666 987654321 123456 123456789 12345 password qwerty 12345678 11111 123123 1234567890 127310326741 aа12345678 abc123 password1 1234 qwertyuiop 123321 password123 1q2w3e4r5t
It is imperative that you change your password to a more secure one if it appears on this list. Strong passwords often contain a combination of upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters.
Act to be safe
In conclusion, using easy-to-remember passwords and PINs can be helpful, but it greatly increases your risk of becoming a victim of cybercrime. Protecting your financial and personal information requires using password managers, coming up with complicated and unique PINs, and maintaining good password hygiene. Act now to protect yourself from scams before it’s too late.
Using weak or easy-to-guess PINs and passwords may seem convenient, but you’re putting yourself at significant risk of fraud and cybercrime. With data breaches and hacking attempts on the rise, it’s never been more important to keep your financial and personal information safe. Simple PINs and passwords like “1234” or “password” are among the first combinations hackers try, leaving you vulnerable to unauthorized access and theft. Updating your credentials to more complex and unique combinations is a necessary step to protecting your digital life.
Employing password managers can simplify the process of generating and securely storing strong PINs and passwords. These tools eliminate the need to rely on easy-to-remember and often weak combinations. Additionally, adopting best practices such as using a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols can greatly reduce the likelihood of your accounts being compromised.Â
By taking proactive measures to strengthen your security, you can greatly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of cybercrime. Remember, it’s easier to prevent fraud by implementing robust safeguards now than to recover from the financial and emotional toll of a breach later. Protect your digital and financial well-being by making secure PINs and passwords a priority these days.