PIN Generator

Generate cryptographically random PIN codes. Perfect for device locks, bank accounts, and access codes.

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pwgen — generate pin
guest@pwgen:~$ generate pin --digits=6
digits
6
preset
quantity
1
[init] crypto.getRandomValues() — ready
[info] avoid 0000, 1234, birth years — attackers try these first

PIN Security Reality Check

PIN TypeCombinationsCrack TimeWith LockoutUse Case
4-digit10,00017 minutes3.5 hoursATM / debit cards
6-digit1,000,00012 days35 daysPhone locks
8-digit100,000,0003.5 years9.6 yearsSecure access
10-digit10 billion350 years960 yearsEnterprise / military

Crack times assume 10 guesses/sec (online attack). With lockout (3 attempts, 30-sec delay), times increase significantly. Offline attacks on leaked hashes are far faster.

Dangerous PIN Patterns to Avoid

Sequential

1234, 5678, 2468, 1357, 0123. The #1 most common PIN is 1234 — used by over 10% of people. Any ascending or descending sequence is in every attacker's first 20 guesses.

Repeated Digits

1111, 0000, 2222, 7777, 4444. Repeated-digit PINs make up 6 of the top 20 most common PINs. They're the second thing an attacker tries after sequences.

Keyboard Patterns

2580 (straight down the phone keypad), 14789 (phone keypad column), 0852 (reverse column). These feel random but are extremely predictable.

Dates & Years

1990, 2000, 0101, 1225, 0704. Birth years, holidays, and anniversaries are among the first things attackers try. With only 366 possible dates, it's trivial to brute-force.

Most Common PINs to Avoid

Research analyzing leaked PIN databases consistently shows the same patterns. The top 20 most common 4-digit PINs account for over 25% of all PINs used. Here are the most dangerous choices:

Top 10 most common PINs: 1234, 1111, 0000, 1212, 7777, 1004, 2000, 4444, 2222, 6969. Also extremely common: birth years (1990-2005), repeated digits, and simple patterns like 1357, 2468, or 1122.

A truly random PIN generated by a cryptographic random number generator avoids all these patterns. That's exactly what this tool provides.

PIN Security by Length

4-Digit PIN

10,000 possible combinations. Standard for ATM/debit cards. With lockout policies (3-5 attempts), this is adequate for physical cards. Without lockout, crackable in under a second.

6-Digit PIN

1,000,000 possible combinations. Used by most smartphones (iPhone, Android). 100x harder to guess than 4-digit. Good balance of security and convenience for device locks.

8-Digit PIN

100,000,000 possible combinations. Used for secure access systems, backup codes, and high-security applications. Takes significantly longer to brute-force even without lockout.

10+ Digit PIN

10 billion+ combinations. At this length, a numeric PIN starts approaching the entropy of a short random password. Used in some enterprise and military applications.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 4-digit PIN safe?

Only when combined with lockout policies (like ATM cards that lock after 3 wrong attempts). For devices without lockout, use 6+ digits minimum.

Should I use the same PIN everywhere?

No. If one PIN is compromised, all your accounts would be at risk. Generate unique PINs for each use — phone, bank, alarm system, etc.

Why is my birthday a bad PIN?

Birthdays in MMDD or DDMM format are among the first combinations attackers try. With only 366 possible dates in a year, an attacker can guess any birthday-based PIN in seconds.

How do phone lockout policies help?

iOS disables the device for increasing intervals after failed attempts (1 min, 5 min, 15 min, 1 hour) and can erase data after 10 failures. Android similarly locks out. This makes even a 4-digit PIN reasonably safe on a physical device.

Is a 6-digit PIN enough for my phone?

Yes. With 1 million combinations and smartphone lockout policies, a random 6-digit PIN is very secure for device locks. The key word is random — avoid patterns, dates, and repeated digits.

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