I came upon this list while looking at a Groupon deal. At first I was upset! That is not the way to choose a pin number!
Then I realized it was just a joke!
The Groupon Guide to: Choosing a PIN
Until an ABM can identify its user by odour or how hard he or she hugs it, you will have to log in with a personal identification number. Here are some ways to come up with a memorable four-digit code:
• Year of birth
• Year of first kiss
• Year of last kiss
• Number of friends you wish you had
• Number of horses you tell people you have
• Last four digits of pi
• Expiration date of milk that’s been inside your refrigerator for a few years
• Autoignition temperature of an acoustic guitar
• Four numbers that, when added together, equal a different number
• 1234
• Estimated number of days you’ll spend alone in life, rounded to the nearest thousand
So what is the best way to choose a pin?
A Personal Identity Number is a private four digit code that you can use to identify yourself to a machine or a person. Banks use them. Alarm systems use them. We sometimes forget them.
This is the problem with security. It can be inconvenient. We can’t always remember the code we use to keep our stuff safe. Pick an easy to remember number. Here is a description of what is wrong with the above suggestions along with some good information.
Year of birth
A four digit number is fairly secure. A two digit number less so. All birthdays start with a 19 or a 20. Using a birthday will reduce your PIN to two digits.
Better to take the last two digits from your birth year and the last two digits of your spouses. This will also help you remember his or her age!
Year of… or Date of…
Your first kiss, last kiss and all the kisses in between happened in the last two hundred years. Keep that 19 and 20 out of the front of your PIN code. It’s too easy to guess.
Number of Friends, Horses, Last Four Digits of Pi
This number will change as soon as you see lipstick on your husbands collar or when Bubba takes that last cold beer. Your PIN doesn’t change. Pi is a number that goes on and on without end. When you find the last four digits let me know.
Auto-ignition Temperature of an Acoustic Guitar
This one is actually pretty cool. Not a bad choice for a PIN but once everyone starts using this it becomes less secure. Choose a PIN that you can remember but is obscure enough that nobody will guess. Your phone number is out, a friends phone number is not so bad.
Four Numbers…
Don’t get me started! They all do that! (Except maybe 0000)
1234
This is often the default code. Change it to make it yours.
Estimated Number of Days You’ll Spend Alone in Life, rounded to the Nearest Thousand
This is just sad. :-(
Are there any dating Groupons?
Read about Pin Statistics here.
Jason Scheide
