How to remember PINs

2e0arr

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,

I used that same system, (phone box, dial phone) had a new girlfriend and easiest way to remember her phone number was to make up a word, mine's was BIFO.

Did you have a system for remembering her name ?? LOL

Malkytheheed

Curve card.

Next.

born_again

I once spoke to someone who wrote their pin on the ATM (only used one). Was distraught when they changed the ATM

sausage_time

Pablo2010 wrote: »

1 PIN across all cards is absolutely OK if you don't keep all your cards in one wallet and change your PIN at least once a year or two.

In what way would that compromise same-PIN-over-multiple cards?

moneywow1

blue.peter wrote: »

I've accumulated quite a few assorted credit and debit cards, and am having trouble remembering all of the PINs. For obvious security reasons, I don't want to either (a) set them all to the same PIN, or (b) carry a written list of them. I'm well aware that I can change the PINs, but what should I change them to?

The best idea I've come up with so far is 1 for credit/2 for debit + one digit representing the issuer + two standard digits. But it's not easy to remember the arbitrary digit assigned to each issuer. I suppose that I could carry a list in my wallet, but (a) this reduces security a bit, (b) a bit of paper will soon get tatty, and (c) having to check it every time I use a card will slow things down.

Does anyone have a better system that they're willing to share?

Here's a better solution.

Set the first 3 digits to be the same for every card, but change the 4th one on each card

You could say make the 4th digit the same as the second to last digit of the card number

Yes the PIN for all cards would all be exposed IF someone guessed one of them AND worked out the pattern. Very, very unlikely

wiseonesomeofthetime

jimbo26 wrote: »

I use the same PIN for all. I appreciate if a thief makes a correct 1 in 10000 guess all are compromised but the chances are so minute it doesn't bother me.

My PIN hasn't been compromised in the last 40 years so doing OK.

The issue for some with this method may be the danger of inadvertently putting your credit card in the ATM instead of your debit card and withdrawing cash from the wrong account, thus incurring a cash advance fee.

Reason why ALL of my cards have different PINs.

I have around eight cards and have a formula similar to those in other posts in this thread to remember them by.

borkid

Choose something you like say history then use special dates for PINS so PIN 1could be date A, PIN2 date B etc, or for steam train fans engine numbers. I use the first 4 numbers of the electron configurations of elements or something which has a maths link depending on whih card I use. For our joint cards I visulise the pattern the numbers make on the key pad.

vacheron

I have no idea what most of my PINs are.

I have about 15 cards in total but the vast majority are not used day to day so they are locked in the safe and I have their default PINs stored in a password manager accessable from my phone or PC if required.

I only carry 3 or 4 "regular use" cards in my wallet at any one time and these have been changed to one of three different PINs. One for credit cards, one for current accounts and one for the joint account.

I have kept these same 3 numbers for years which were committed to memory many moons ago. I see no benefit in changing PINs regularly as I can't see how it would make any appreciable difference to security.

PS. The idea of spelling out phrases (or song titles) using the keypad is one of the best ideas, however I would probably find an oddball telephone with different, or no numbers,so my paranoia won't allow me that for PINs! I do use that technique for some passwords though.

Andyjflet

Used to supply a food company called 3663 (spells food on the keypad) so have always used this system too.

eddddy

jimbo26 wrote: »

I use the same PIN for all. I appreciate if a thief makes a correct 1 in 10000 guess all are compromised but the chances are so minute it doesn't bother me.

My PIN hasn't been compromised in the last 40 years so doing OK.

Card fraud doesn't really result from thieves guessing PINs - I suspect that never, ever happens.

A more likely example is 'shoulder surfing' - i.e. somebody watches over your shoulder as you enter your PIN - or a tiny hidden camera records you entering your PIN.

Then an accomplice steals your wallet.

If multiple cards in the wallet have the same PIN, that increases the thieve's haul.

(Obviously, covering your hand when you enter your PIN, and being aware of who's behind you, reduce this risk. But having different PINs for different cards would reduce the risk further.)