Data Visualization of the Most Common PIN Numbers
Based on an analysis of leaked PIN numbers by Nick Berry, Information is Beautiful made this visualization of the most common PINs.
According to the analysis, just 20 4-digit numbers account for 27% of all PINs: 1234, 0000, 7777, 2000, 2222, 9999, 5555, 1122, 8888, 2001, 1111, 1212, 1004, 4444, 6969 (nice), 3333, 6666, 1313, 4321, 1010. The diagonal line is people using repeated pairs of digits (e.g. 2727 or 8888) while the horizontal line near the bottom is people who are presumably using their (19xx) birth year as a PIN. (You can see the beginning of a 20xx line on the left side.)
The best causally unguessable PINs would seem to be unrepeated pairs of numbers greater than 50 — so 8957, 7064, 9653, etc. Choose wisely.
Comments 8
thread
latest
popular
Another thing you can notice in the viz is which months have 31 days! This is the staggered vertical line at x=30,31 and y
I saw that there's a diagonal line from bottom left to upper right denoting repeating two numbers (ex: 25,25). There's a little bump right above the midpoint, populated entirely by Van Halen fans.
Amazing comment. This would be a like or fave if such a feature existed here. [1 favorite +] [flag this post]
I looked at something similar to this when making a 'memorable-ISH' (not guessable but memorizable/easy-enough to retain for a few seconds when copying off a screen and entering into another keyboard) password generator (like password managers have) ~9 years ago https://www.afp548.com/2015/08/17/design-of-and-how-to-generate-memorable-passwords/
When it comes to just numbers, one of the references I consulted was this post (that's also still an active link, hallelujah!) https://minimaxir.com/2015/02/password-numbers/ and roughly skimming the 'least used' there tends to be a 5 or 7 in more than half, so perhaps that analysis remains true.
Did you know that "PIN number" is redundant? That's because the "N" in "PIN" already stands for "No one gives a crap you pedantic fool".
Ha!
So I should pick a number that corresponds to one of those black dots?
I was assigned a PIN for my first ATM card in ~1983. There was no choice except to memorize what you were given. That number was given a permanent space in my brain and I still use it occasionally. I'm happy to learn it meets the criteria for "casually unguessable."
Hello! In order to comment or fave, you need to be a current kottke.org member. If you'd like to sign up for a membership to support the site and join the conversation, you can explore your options here.
Existing members can sign in here. If you're a former member, you can renew your membership.
Note: If you are a member and tried to log in, it didn't work, and now you're stuck in a neverending login loop of death, try disabling any ad blockers or extensions. Or try logging out and then back in. Still having trouble? Email me!
In order to comment or fave, you need to be a current kottke.org member. Check out your options for renewal.
This is the name that'll be displayed next to comments you make on kottke.org; your email will not be displayed publicly. I'd encourage you to use your real name (or at least your first name and last initial) but you can also pick something that you go by when you participate in communities online. Choose something durable and reasonably unique (not "Me" or "anon"). Please don't change this often. No impersonation.
Note: I'm letting folks change their display names because the membership service that kottke.org uses collects full names and I thought some people might not want their names displayed publicly here. If it gets abused, I might disable this feature.
If you feel like this comment goes against the grain of the community guidelines or is otherwise inappropriate, please let me know and I will take a look at it.
This thread is closed for new comments & replies. Thanks to everyone for participating!