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3.4M PIN numbers that were pulled together from a whole bunch of data breaches have been heat mapped, and they are quite interesting (to me at least): https://www.grc.com/miscfiles/pin.png[^]
Given that most (if not all ATM / shop card readers work with 4 digit PINs, it's interesting to see what people generally use. Notice the lines and clusters: identical pairs (0000, 0101, ...) birthdate day and month, birth year seem to be pretty common, but it's interesting to note two things:
1) There are a small number of "empty" or "near empty" cells where people just aren't disposed to use that combination.
2) 20 out of the possible 10,000 different PIN values are used by 27% of the population ... so if you want to "brute force" a PIN, those are the ones to try first - if you are using one of them, it's probably time to change it:
1234, 4321, 0000, 7777, 2000, 2222, 9999, 5555, 1122, 8888, 2001, 1111, 1212, 1004, 4444, 6969, 3333, 6666, 1313, 1010
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Very interesting picture. Any four consecutive digits appear to be highly used.
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Yeah - it's surprising how much human beings can skew what you might assume was pretty random data!
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Banks (in India, most probably elsewhere too) block the login after three incorrect PIN entries (to unlock which the customer has to complete some formalities after visiting a bank branch). So, the customer has at least some protection.
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I have yet to understand how PIN numbers are more secure than passwords. Face it, there are only 10,000 combinations, yet even an alphabetic, case insensitive, PIN would have 456,976 combinations. I would expect being able to brute force a pin number, regardless of length, would be easy for modern computers that can break 128-bit key based encryption systems in hours.
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OriginalGriff wrote: 1234
"That's amazing. I've got the same combination on my luggage." 
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."
- Homer
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Wordle 1,094 6/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟨🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩⬜🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Wordle 1,094 3/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟨🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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Wordle 1,094 3/6*
⬜🟩🟨⬜⬜
🟨🟩⬜🟨⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟨🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
In a closed society where everybody's guilty, the only crime is getting caught. In a world of thieves, the only final sin is stupidity. - Hunter S Thompson - RIP
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Wordle 1,094 3/6*
⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have. -Anon
And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music. -Frederick Nietzsche
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Wordle 1,094 3/6
⬛⬛🟨⬛⬛
⬛🟨🟨🟨⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Ok, I have had my coffee, so you can all come out now!
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Greetings Kind Regards
My most recent interaction w/ Microsoft Support was signed off as " support person name (Shanghai Wicresoft Co,.Ltd.) [MSFT]" They have a web site. Apparently many happy programmers. And they know how to dance.
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And they probably enjoy driving in their affordable electric vehicles 
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Soon we may also unless they invent something superior perhaps teleporting the inexpensive EVs as it seems it is the United Federation of Planets vs the Romulans.
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When thinking of driving, my last desire is for the car to leave the surface of the road, yet the Tesla fans seem to like this idea  
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
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I've seen several threads posted here related to aviation. I'm curious, do you have an interest in flight, like I do?
From as far back as I can remember, I've been infatuated with anything that flies. My father worked at Boeing as an Aeronautical Engineer. If I had a nickel for every aviation question that I asked my dad, I could buy a corporate jet.
We would go to the airport and watch planes all the time. If I was drawing a picture, it would be of a bird or an airplane. I had an obsession with birds. I had several bird books that I'd look through for hours. It was all so magical to me.
In 2005 or so, I took my first flying lesson. I initially considered becoming an airline pilot, so I attended an airline training academy in case I chose to make it a career. I stopped short of getting my Airline Transport Pilot rating.
I still love flying planes. The aircraft I enjoy flying the most is an ultralight. It's basically a hang-glider with an engine. I've heard that flying a glider is the best, but I haven't yet done that.
I want to go hang-gliding, but it's super dangerous. I like jumping out of airplanes, but only with a parachute. That's also dangerous, but it's also so fun! 
What about you? What do you think of aviation? Do you enjoy flying?
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You are not alone. Back in the late 60s, my dad would take us to the airport in Raleigh. They had a balcony that overlooked the taxi and run ways. We would watch for hours... the best part (for me) was the jet fuel exhaust. About as close as I came to being a polite was when I got bit by the sailplane bug. Was seriously considering that, but needed to feed the family first.
Charlie Gilley
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759
Has never been more appropriate.
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charlieg wrote: You are not alone.
That's nice to know. I'm glad for that.
charlieg wrote: They had a balcony that overlooked the taxi and run ways. We would watch for hours...
Yes, for hours and hours. The last time I visited the airport to watch planes take off and land was just a few years ago. I loved it. When I was a kid, I'd bring along my telescope and binoculars. Nowadays, bringing a telescope, binoculars, and even a camera can grab the attention of the police. It's not illegal to use those things at a non-military airport, but I know many people who have been hassled by the police for taking photos. Some people actually make a living from taking photos of airliners. The largest aviation photography site that I know of is https://airliners.net, and if you take a look at its number of members, you'll see how popular aviation photography is.
charlieg wrote: the best part (for me) was the jet fuel exhaust.
I know. That's my favorite. I've probably lost a few brain cells from the aroma of avgas in my time. Jet fuel used by airliners is my favorite. It's got that hint of kerosine that I love. It's usually called Jet-A. JP-8 which is the fuel used in many fighter jets is just as good. I wish there was a Jet-A fuel cologne you could buy. Imagine one of those cologne commercials you see on TV. ...Aviation Turbine Fuel Eau De Toilette, A Fragrance For Men, by Boeing.
charlieg wrote: About as close as I came to being a polite was when I got bit by the sailplane bug.
Yes, I hear that often. Gliders/Sailplanes seem to be the overall favorite by a long shot.
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Mircea Neacsu wrote: If interested, I can also recommend an aviation hair dryer: Princess Juliana International Airport - Wikipedia[^]
Oh, yes! St. Maarten Airport! I'd move there and live on the beach if I could. And all the videos on YouTube -- I've spent hours watching them. It's fascinating.
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I tried to do the “hair dryer” thing but, when the jet went full blast, I chickened out and dropped down
Mircea
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Mircea Neacsu wrote: I tried to do the “hair dryer” thing but, when the jet went full blast, I chickened out and dropped down
I can't blame you for that. Some of those videos showing 747s on approach are unbelievable. I envy you for the fact that you've actually been there.
Do you ever watch videos of 747s landing in strong crosswinds at Hong Kong's airport? Those are the best. My uncle flew 747s out of Hong Kong after retiring from the Royal Air Force in the UK. He was a fighter pilot and flew the English Electric Lightning. Sometimes my aunt and nephew would stand on the beach and watch him fly by. Each time he flew by, and he knew they would be watching, he'd do this great big loop. My cousin was a young kid at the time and he absolutely loved it. Now, my cousin works as an airline pilot. Go figure.
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As you come out of the National Airport in Washington, DC to go towards the city, there is a place with a parking lot where you can pull in and watch the airliners come in for landing. Awesome, close views of the planes!
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