Make Sure You’re Not Using Any of These 50 Leaked PINs
Protecting your accounts with strong PINs is crucial. A recent report highlighted the 50 most frequently leaked four-digit PINs found on the Dark Web.
Understanding the vulnerabilities associated with using easily guessed PINs, and learning how to create robust personal identification numbers is key.
This list serves as a reminder to avoid these common combinations and choose something more secure.
Here are the 50 PINs identified in the report:
1234
1111
0000
1342
1212
2222
4444
1122
1986
2020
7777
5555
1989
9999
6969
2004
1010
4321
6666
1984
1987
1985
8888
2000
1980
1988
1982
2580
1313
1990
1991
1983
1978
1979
1995
1994
1977
1981
3333
1992
1975
2005
1993
1976
1996
2002
1973
2468
1998
1974
Always use strong PINs. Never use any of the PINS listed above.
Be sure you’re not using any of the PINs listed above or any easily guessable combinations like sequential numbers (1234, 4567), repeating numbers (1111, 2222), or dates (birthdays, anniversaries).
Remember Randomness: A strong PIN is unpredictable. Try creating a random word or phrase and converting it to numbers on your keypad. This makes it memorable for you but difficult for others to guess.
Don’t use the same PIN for multiple accounts. Different accounts may require different levels of security.
Update your PINs periodically to maintain security.
Consider a Password Manager (for more than 4 digits): While this article focuses on 4-digit PINs, a password manager can be a valuable tool for generating and storing complex sequences if a system allows longer numeric PINs or passcodes.
By following these simple suggestions, you can significantly improve the security of your accounts and reduce the risk of unauthorized access. And you’ll be safer online.