Stealing a PIN code is as easy as 1234
You work hard for your money.
So why put your finances at risk with a personal identification number (PIN) that's as easy as 1234?
A study by DataGenetics revealed that people are opening themselves up to identity theft and financial fraud by selecting four-digit PINs that are easy to crack.
When thinking of a four-digit password, many people opt for something that is simple and easy to remember such as a child's birth date, an anniversary or the year they were born.
However, there are over 10,000 possible combinations the digits 0 to 9 can be arranged to create a four-digit PIN code, according to the research.
The 10 most common PINs identified were:
1. 1234
2. 1111
3. 0000
4. 1212
5. 7777
6. 1004
7. 2000
8. 4444
9. 2222
10. 6969
Other numbers to stay clear of is your year of birth, sequences, numbers related to movies, shows or novels such as 2001 (2001: A Space Odyssey), 1984 (a novel by George Orwell), 4077 (M*A*S*H), 0007 (James Bond 007) and, of course, any combination of 0666 (the number of the beast).
Believe it or not, hackers just might be able to crack over 10 per cent of all codes with just one guess, according to the research data.
And the least used four-digit number?
Answer: 8068.
By Donna Donaldson, MSN Money
Using this information would you consider changing your PIN?
Posted by: Dummy | Aug 1, 2021 8:01:38 PM
I agree with this article. Some people just dont think. I can use myself as an example, My mastercard credit card number is 8464-5877-4895-4432, the expiry is 09/16 and my pin is 1234. The limit is 17,000 and the balance is 100 dollars.
It is easy to see by this example how easy it is to take other peoples money when they do such obviously dumb things.
Posted by: John | Aug 1, 2021 8:27:45 PM
To answer the question: NO!
Posted by: Teenage Boy | Aug 3, 2021 8:24:10 AM
I bet at least 15% of all teenage guys use 8008 (BOOB)
Posted by: S. Longworth | Aug 3, 2021 10:27:01 AM
How can there be over 10,000 combinations of a four digit code? There are exactly 10 thousand combos if you include 0000 are there not?
Apparently we need "research" to prove this!
Posted by: Michael | Aug 3, 2021 12:44:15 PM
I know with TD I was able to choose six digits for my code and still use that. To answer Longworth, that's one way to make it possible for over 10,000; more like 1 million combinations.
Posted by: Justin Beaver | Aug 3, 2021 9:57:09 PM
simple non financial websites won't even let you choose an all numerical 4 digit password, but for your credit card, no problem. At least let me choose a longer than 4 digit PIN
Posted by: Kevin | Aug 6, 2021 11:53:20 AM
I remember way back, Royal Bank used to let me choose 10 digits for a pin on my debit card.
Have you found any pin-pads at stores that won't accept 6 digits? - This was my concern
Posted by: Tismeby | Aug 6, 2021 2:38:50 PM
I use a 6 digit pin, however we recently went to Europe and over there they only accept 4 digit pins so we had to change them prior to going. I have seen 6 digit pins not work in the United States as well.
Posted by: Rico Suave | Aug 6, 2021 6:16:55 PM
They use PINs in the US? I thought they were still using stone tablet given how far behind they are with payment technology (ie: signing for credit cards).
Posted by: Smoke screen | Aug 6, 2021 10:36:37 PM
These articles are a smoke screen. The real money thieves are financial service consulting firms. They charge a percentage whether the investments make money or not. The financial services industry has destroyed the middle class American way of life. Enialating Pa and Ma's bank account and leaving nothing for the future of the rest of America. The real thieves are executives, stock brokers, lawyers, financial service fund managers.