PIN number is the 4-digit password to authenticate ATM cards to bank account. This is a very important number to protect users from credit card fraud, however, many of us are underestimating its importance.
About 10% of Americans have fallen into credit card fraud and 7% of debit cards users get hacked or stolen every year. It results in the loss of $5.5 billion for credit card fraud each year. And the main reason is because our PIN number is so obvious.
We have the freedom to choose the PIN number, but we often get one that is easy to remember such as our birth year, duplicate numbers or sequential numbers. That is not a smart choice because it is so easy for hackers to take a guess. A study from DataGenetics showed that credit card thieves could successfully guess more then 25% of stolen PINs within 20 attempts.
They also released a list of the most popular PIN numbers and that’s what we should avoid. Let’s check out the list and its frequency of usage:
- 1234 (10.713%)
- 1111 (6.016%)
- 0000 (1.881%)
- 1212 (1.197%)
- 7777 (0.745%)
- 1004 (0.616%)
- 2000 (0.613%)
- 4444 (0.526%)
- 2222 (0.516%)
- 6969 (0.512%)
- 9999 (0.451%)
- 3333 (0.419%)
- 5555 (0.395%)
- 6666 (0.391%)
- 1122 (0.366%)
- 1313 (0.304%)
- 8888 (0.303%)
- 4321 (0.293%)
- 2001 (0.290%)
- 1010 (0.285%)
If you are using one of the PIN numbers above, you absolutely have to change it immediately because it is so vulnerable to hacking.
Besides, we also have a list of the least-used PIN numbers:
- 8957 (0.001042%)
- 9480 (0.001042%)
- 6793 (0.001012%)
- 8398 (0.000982%)
- 0738 (0.000982%)
- 7637 (0.000953%)
- 6835 (0.000953%)
- 9629 (0.000953%)
- 8093 (0.000893%)
- 8068 (0.000744%)
However, I also won’t recommend you to use any of the numbers because there is a chance that many people will change to one of them after reading this article. Just avoid the most popular PIN and get your own safe password.
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Scott Craighead says
“1-2-3-4-5.” That’s the same number some idiot would have on his luggage! Know what that’s from? haha – Scott Craighead
Tuan Do says
I believe 000 is the most popular password on suitcases. People are too lazy to change the default one. :D
Scott Craighead says
It probably is. I was quoting a famous movie called SpaceBalls! This post reminded me of it. – Scott Craighead
Gern says
PIN number? Really? Personal Identification Number number?
Tuan Do says
What’s wrong with PIN number?
kloyd says
His point: the use of “number” is redundant. It should only be PIN. PIN number is basically Personal Identification Number number
Tuan Do says
Thanks for your explanation.
That’s a redundant word but we all accept it, especially for acronyms. We can tell some other examples like ATM machine or LCD display.
Heinrich D. Bag says
MOTO