The rarest 4-digit PIN code identified in a comprehensive analysis of digital security patterns is 8068.
Understanding PIN Code Rarity
PIN (Personal Identification Number) codes are a fundamental aspect of digital and physical security, used across various applications from bank cards to smartphone access. While there are 10,000 possible combinations for a 4-digit PIN (from 0000 to 9999), not all are used with equal frequency. Many individuals tend to choose easy-to-remember patterns, birth years, or common sequences, leading to certain PINs being highly predictable and, consequently, less secure.
The Least Common PIN
Based on a study that examined 3.4 million passwords, the PIN 8068 stands out as the least frequently used. It appeared just 25 times in the entire dataset, which translates to a minuscule frequency of 0.000744%. This extreme rarity makes it one of the most unpredictable and potentially more secure choices, precisely because it is so rarely selected by users. You can find more details on such analyses of common and uncommon PINs here.
Other Unpopular PINs
While 8068 holds the top spot for rarity, several other PINs are also notably unpopular among users. These codes are often devoid of common patterns, personal significance, or sequential order, contributing to their low adoption rates. The study identified a list of 10 least popular 4-digit PINs. Following 8068, another rare PIN is 8093.
To illustrate the rarity of these codes, consider the following:
| Rank | Rarest PIN Code | Occurrences (out of 3.4M) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8068 | 25 |
| 2 | 8093 | (Very low, among the least common) |
(Note: Specific occurrence counts for all top 10 least popular PINs were not fully detailed in the provided data, beyond 8068.)
Why are some PINs rarer?
The rarity of certain PINs like 8068 often stems from several factors:
- Lack of Personal Significance: They don't commonly correspond to birthdays, anniversaries, or other easily memorable dates.
- Absence of Common Patterns: Unlike sequential (e.g., 1234, 4321) or repetitive (e.g., 1111, 2222) patterns, rare PINs often seem random.
- Infrequent Use in Defaults: They are not typically used as default codes for devices or services.
Choosing a Secure PIN
Understanding which PINs are rare can provide insight into choosing more secure options. When creating a PIN, consider avoiding:
- Sequential numbers: e.g., 1234, 5678, 4321
- Repeated numbers: e.g., 1111, 2222, 7777
- Dates: Birthdays, anniversaries, or years
- Common patterns: e.g., 2580 (straight line on a keypad)
Instead, opt for combinations that appear random and have no obvious personal connection or pattern, much like the rarest PINs identified in research. While remembering such a PIN might require a little more effort, the increased security significantly outweighs this minor inconvenience.
