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Passcodes Prove Predictable

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the ladies-love-alliteration dept.

mikejuk writes "Research reveals something we all suspected but couldn't prove — in a four digit pin the most popular first digit is one, the most popular second digit is two. Entropy only really kicks in on the third and fourth digits. What is more looking at the frequencies of four digit groups just 10 different passcodes would be enough to unlock one in seven iPhones!"

4 of 167 comments (clear)

  1. Easy to fix! by Daetrin · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is simple to fix! Everyone, make sure to start all your passcodes with "4" instead of "1" and this attack will be easily foiled!

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  2. Repost by swb · · Score: 4, Informative

    Isn't this a repost of the iPhone app developer who made the photo-graphing lock screen and kept anonymous stats of the "passcodes" people entered into his lock-screen-like lock screen?

  3. Re:Physical security by cbiltcliffe · · Score: 4, Funny

    Here's a clue: don't let anyone mess with your phone when you're not there to stop them.

    Really? Do you hear what you're saying?

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    "City hall" in German is "Rathaus" Kinda explains a few things......
  4. Benford's Law by Bobtree · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Since people are likely to use passcodes based on real-world numbers so they can be remembered, perhaps Benford's law applies.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benford's_law