Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) are everywhere—on ATM cards, alarm systems, mobile phones, voicemail accounts, and more. Yet despite their ubiquity, PIN security is often overlooked. With cyber threats growing increasingly sophisticated, it’s worth taking a closer look at how secure your PIN truly is.
Common PINs Are Easy Targets
A study analyzing over 3.4 million 4-digit PINs from various data breaches has revealed striking patterns in PIN selection. Many users choose easily guessable combinations that make them vulnerable to unauthorized access. In fact, a significant portion of users rely on repeating digits, sequences, or meaningful dates—choices that attackers are well aware of.
Some of the most commonly used and therefore riskiest PINs include:
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1234, 1111, 0000, 1212, 7777 – Obvious and repetitive combinations
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Birthdates – PINs starting with 19xx or 20xx
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Patterns like 2580 or 1379 – Straight lines on a keypad
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Duplicate pairs – e.g., 4545, 3434, 2323
As shown in the heat map, lighter-colored areas indicate clusters of common PINs, while darker regions show less frequently used, and thus more secure, options.
Why It Matters
Attackers don’t always need high-end tools or advanced techniques to access personal accounts. If your PIN falls into one of the common patterns above, a brute-force attempt—or even a lucky guess—could be enough to compromise your account.
Moreover, some criminals use breached PIN lists to automate attacks across multiple services, much like credential stuffing for passwords. This makes it imperative to use uncommon combinations, even for a simple four-digit code.
How to Create a More Secure PIN
To strengthen your PIN security:
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Avoid birthdays, anniversaries, and years
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Stay away from common patterns or keypad shapes
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Use numbers that aren’t personally associated with you
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Don’t reuse the same PIN across multiple services
If you’re unsure whether your PIN is secure, consider choosing a random number or using a secure random number generator. Also, avoid storing PINs insecurely or sharing them with others.
Updating Your PIN? Make It Count
Most banks and credit unions allow you to update your PIN via a secure call or online platform without requiring a physical card change. If your current PIN falls into a high-risk category, updating it proactively is a smart move that takes just minutes.
