The 10 Most Commonly Used and Unsafe PIN Numbers (Is Yours On The List?)

Credit card fraud is an escalating issue, with the UK alone losing a staggering £556.3 million to credit, debit, and other payment card fraud in 2022. According to finder.com, the average defrauded account suffered a loss of £204, highlighting the serious financial impact on individuals.

This widespread problem is exacerbated by the use of weak and easily guessable PIN numbers. By avoiding these common pitfalls, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to such fraud.

Why Weak PINs Are a Major Risk

Jake Moore, a global cybersecurity advisor at ESET, explains the dangers of using simple or easily guessable PINs. “Using easy-to-guess passcodes allows attackers to target people more easily,” he told MailOnline. Many individuals opt for PINs related to their personal information, such as birthdays or anniversaries, due to ease of memory.

However, this practice puts them at significant risk. “People put themselves at risk by having weak passwords and PIN codes and often do not fully understand the threat until they are compromised,” Moore added. He recommends the use of password managers, which not only store but also generate strong, random passcodes, eliminating the reliance on easily remembered numbers.

The Most Commonly Used PIN Numbers

Based on a study conducted by the data website Information is Beautiful, which analyzed 3.4 million data points from various data breaches, the most commonly used PIN numbers have been identified. Here are the top offenders:

1. 1234
2. 1111
3. 0000
4. 1212
5. 7777
6. 1004
7. 2000
8. 4444
9. 2222
10. 6969

If your PIN is on this list, it is highly recommended that you change it immediately to something more secure.

The Least Commonly Used PIN Numbers

Conversely, the study also identified the least common PIN numbers, which are significantly harder for attackers to guess. These include:

1. 8557
2. 8438
3. 9539
4. 7063
5. 6827
6. 0859
7. 6793
8. 0738
9. 6835
10. 8093

Using one of these PINs, or a similarly unique combination, can greatly enhance your security.

The Importance of Password Hygiene

In addition to weak PINs, easily guessable passwords are a major vulnerability. NordPass conducted a survey in 2021, revealing that “123456” topped the list of the most commonly used and weakest passwords. Jonas Karklys, CEO of NordPass, emphasized the importance of strong passwords: “Passwords are the gateway to our digital lives, and with us spending more and more time online, it’s becoming enormously important to take better care of our cybersecurity.”

The Worst Passwords to Use

Here are the top 25 worst passwords identified by NordPass:

1. 123456
2. 123456789
3. 12345
4. qwerty
5. password
6. 12345678
7. 111111
8. 123123
9. 1234567890
10. 1234567
11. qwerty123
12. 000000
13. 1q2w3e
14. aa12345678
15. abc123
16. password1
17. 1234
18. qwertyuiop
19. 123321
20. password123
21. 1q2w3e4r5t
22. iloveyou
23. 654321
24. 666666
25. 987654321

If your password is on this list, it’s crucial to change it to something more secure. Strong passwords typically include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.

Taking Action to Protect Yourself

In conclusion, while it might be convenient to use easily remembered PINs and passwords, doing so significantly increases your risk of becoming a victim of cybercrime. Utilizing password managers, creating complex and unique PINs, and maintaining good password hygiene are essential steps in safeguarding your financial and personal information. Don’t wait until it’s too late—take action now to protect yourself from fraud.