Cyber attacks on rise: Check out top 10 most and least common 4-digit PINs

Many people have difficulty selecting and remembering a passcode, especially when it involves four-digit pins. But if you plan to default to something as easy as 1-2-3, you might want to rethink making that your password. A new cybersecurity study revealed the most popular pins people use that could result in your account being hacked.

India is one of the most targeted countries in the world, with a 33% rise in cyber assaults year on year in the first quarter of 2024, a Check Point Software Technologies Ltd report said. Cybercriminals use computer system and network vulnerabilities to target individuals, corporations, and governments. They utilise a variety of ways, including phishing schemes and ransomware, to acquire critical information.

A weak PIN is the simplest approach for an attacker to compromise any system. A weak PIN may be something apparent, like "1234" or "0000," or something easy to guess based on personal information, such as your birth date or phone number.

And now, a recent cybersecurity study by Information is Beautiful shows that many tend to use simple patterns in their security codes. Of the 3.4 million PINs examined, the most common patterns are:

• 1234
• 1111
• 0000
• 1212
• 7777
• 1004
• 2000
• 4444
• 2222
• 6969

Using a basic or readily guessable PIN might make you a prime target for fraudsters. To secure your accounts and devices, you should emphasise security when setting a PIN. A strong, unique PIN can considerably limit the danger of unwanted access to your critical data.

Here are some least common PINs:

• 8557
• 8438
• 9539
• 7063
• 6827
• 0859
• 6793
• 0738
• 6835
• 8093 

Despite precautions, passcodes can still be hacked. Therefore, the report further suggests using password managers for added security.