Security PIN Codes You Should Never Use

Four digit PIN codes protect everything from your bank account to your cell phone. But if you choose your PIN yourself, chances are your money and data isn’t as safe as you think.  

ABC News Australia analyzed 29 million PIN codes and found that almost one in 10 people use the same number. Dozens of other number combinations are also extremely popular, making them deceptively easy to guess.  

Here are 50 of the most popular PIN codes, according to data from Have I Been Pwned?, a website that tracks data breaches worldwide. If you use any of these PINs, it’s probably a good idea to change them. 

Popularity: 9% 

The most common PIN is obvious once you think about it: 1234. It’s easy to remember (just like “password” as a password) and might even be the default PIN for some things. Almost one in 10 people use it for something, which means that if someone is trying to steal your money or your information, they’ll start with this PIN.  

Popularity: 1.6% 

The next most used PIN is 1111. Again, it’s easy to remember, and even easier to enter into a number pad. When people choose this PIN, they’re not exactly feeling creative, or know that their recall for a more complicated number isn’t great.

Popularity: 1.1% 

The third most common PIN is 0000. Just like 1111, it takes just about no brain power to remember this one, but that’s a big risk when it comes to something like your debit card PIN. 

Popularity: 0.6% 

Interestingly, the fourth most popular PIN code is 1342. People who use this one probably think they’re being clever by changing up the most popular 1234. But so many people have that same thought that this simple variation is now relatively easy to guess, as well. 

2222, 4444, 7777, 5555, 9999, 6666, 8888, 3333, 1212, 1122, 1010, 1313 

In the list of the 50 most common PIN codes, repeating numbers account for 14 of them (including 1111 and 0000). This includes every digit 0 through 9 repeated, as well as a few instances of 2-digit repeated numbers. For example, 1212 is the fifth most popular PIN in the data, and 1122 is the eighth most popular.  

1986, 2020, 1989, 2004, 1984, 1987, 1985, 2000, 1980, 1988, 1982, 1990, 1991, 1983, 1978, 1979, 1995, 1994, 1977, 1981, 1992, 1975, 2005, 1993, 1976, 1996, 2002, 1973, 1998, 1974 

Over half the numbers — 30 to be exact — on the list of most common PIN codes are years. The most popular is 1986, followed by 2020. Presumably, these dates are the year the PIN holder was born or the year the PIN was set up. In some cases, it might be the year the PIN holder’s child was born, or other meaningful date. If years are your PIN default, it’s time for a change because they’re very easy to guess.  

It’s also worth noting that four-digit PINs representing a month and day are also popular, but none appear in the top 50 list. That includes numbers like 1225, or 2512 if you live in some parts of the world, to represent December 25. Interestingly, 0229 and 2902 are some of the least popular date-related PINs because that date only comes around every four years. 

If you think reversing 1234 for your PIN is clever, you’re in good company. It’s the 18th most popular PIN on the list. 

Can you guess why 2580 is the 28th most popular PIN? It’s not obvious until you look at a keypad. Those numbers make up a straight line down the center of a phone keypad, making it easy to remember if you’re not great with details.  

The 48th most popular PIN code is 2468. If you’re someone who tends to forget your PIN, a “2-4-6-8 who do we appreciate?” chant might help you remember. Or you’re just really into math and multiplication tables.  

Of course 6969 is on the list, and it takes the spot as the 15th most popular PIN code. Keep it classy, everyone.