India has witnessed a staggering 33% increase in cyber attacks year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024, according to a report by Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
This surge has placed India among the most targeted nations globally. Cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks, employing various tactics such as phishing scams and ransomware to steal sensitive information from individuals, businesses, and government entities.
One of the primary reasons for this significant rise in cyber attacks is the use of weak PINs, which provide an easy entry point for attackers. Weak PINs often include obvious sequences like "1234" or "0000," or easily guessable numbers based on personal information such as birth dates or phone numbers.
A recent cybersecurity study by Information is Beautiful analysed 3.4 million PINs and identified the most common patterns used:
1234
1111
0000
1212
7777
1004
2000
4444
2222
6969
Source: informationisbeautiful.net
Choosing simple or PINs that are easy to crack significantly increase the risk of unauthorised access to personal accounts and sensitive information. Jake Moore, a cybersecurity expert from ESET, strongly advises against using such passcodes. He notes that many people underestimate the risk until they fall victim to a cyber attack. Moore emphasises that skilled hackers can crack a significant portion of passcodes within a limited number of attempts, making it crucial to avoid using birth years, personal information, or repeated patterns for personal accounts, including social media.
The study also highlighted some of the least common 4-digit PINs, which offer better security:
8557
8438
9539
7063
6827
0859
6793
0738
6835
8093
Despite these precautions, passcodes can still be vulnerable to hacking. Therefore, Moore suggests using password managers for enhanced security. These tools can safeguard personal information by generating completely random codes, reducing the reliance on memorable, but insecure options like birthdays or anniversaries.
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