India has witnessed a staggering 33% rise in cyberattacks during the first quarter of 2024, according to a report by Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. This alarming increase has made India one of the most targeted nations globally. One of the primary reasons behind this surge is the use of weak PINs, which cybercriminals can easily guess to breach systems.
Some PINs are inherently guessable due to their simplicity, posing a significant security risk. Birth years, birthdates, and repetitive passwords are also highly vulnerable to attacks. To enhance security, experts recommend using password managers that generate random, secure codes not based on easily accessible personal information.
According to a recent cybersecurity study by Information is Beautiful, the top ten most common 4-digit PINs include 1234, 1111, 0000, 1212, 7777, 1004, 2000, 4444, 2222, and 6969. In contrast, some of the least common 4-digit PINs include 8557, 8438, 9539, 7063, 6827, 0859, 6793, 0738, 6835, and 8093.
By adopting strong and secure PINs, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of becoming victims of cyberattacks. Password managers can provide an additional layer of protection, ensuring that passwords are complex and not easily compromised.