Do you use a PIN? A few weeks ago, Tarah Wheeler, Senior Director of Data Trust, Threat and Vulnerability Management at Splunk, he published on Twitter a list of the most common PIN codes used by users to protect their smartphones or credit/debit cards.
Wheeler claims 26% of all phones could be cracked (opened) with the first 20 codes locking PIN. Let's look at the list published by the researcher:
- 1234
- 1111
- 0000
- 1212
- 7777
- 1004
- 2000
- 4444
- 2222
- 6969
- 9999
- 3333
- 5555
- 6666
- 1122
- 1313
- 8888
- 4321
- 2001
- 1010
Are any of the above codes yours? If we look for it above We will find that 1234 is by far the most popular PIN on the market, accounting for about 11% of the total, while PINs 1111, 0000, and 1212 represent approximately 6, 2, and 1 percent, respectively.
Based on the above you should probably review the security offered by the PIN codes.
Although biometric locking methods are now established, they almost always work in parallel with a PIN lock code. The biometric method may make the PIN code used much less frequently, but it does not seem to replace it completely, especially on iOS devices.
Since we mentioned iOS, Apple from version 9 onwards asks for 6-digit PIN codes in advancechoice, but it seems there are still too many people using four-digit numbers to lock their device.
Maybe it's time for iOS but also the Android force their users to use stronger PINs.
Of course if you are one of those who use one of the above PIN codes to lock your device, or on a cash card, change it now…
_________________
- Windows 10 20H1 download the official ISO images
- Microsoft: the first DNA storage device
- AMD Ryzen 9 3950X third generation monster at 749 dollars
- Google Stadia comes in November: Everything you need to know
- The new GoldBrute botnet tries to break 1,5 million servers with RDP
