Is your PIN safe? An investigation reveals the safest ones – and therefore makes them completely useless!
What is the risk of hackers cracking your credit or debit card PIN or gaining access to your online banking? That can be calculated. It depends on how often the four-digit combinations are used. A new cybersecurity study shows which five combinations to avoid and which are – or rather ‘were’ – safer!
Jake Moore of European cybersecurity company ESET in Dorset, UK, analyzed four-digit secret codes made public by data theft. Not surprisingly, the most commonly used PIN was 1234, followed by 1111 and 0000. 1212 and 7777 should also be avoided.
Tip: Do not use personal information
Many users have numbers that are easy to guess, such as date of birth or wedding anniversary. Good hackers can crack a third of four-digit passcodes in 61 guesses. If you give them 426 chances, they get access to 50 percent of the accounts. Even with just five attempts, the chance is 20 percent. Less commonly used and therefore more secure number combinations are 8557, 8438, 9539, 7063 and 6827 – at least until they are revealed. Moore’s tip: “Change combinations often and don’t use personal information.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
