Personal identification number

A personal identification number, or PIN, is a special number that helps prove who you are when you want to use certain devices or services. Think of it like a secret code that only you should know. People use PINs to keep their information safe.

PINs are very important because they help protect private information. Banks use them to make sure that only the real cardholder can take money out or make purchases. Governments might use them to verify a person’s identity, and companies often use them to let employees log into computers or secure buildings.

You’ll see PINs used in many places. For example, when you take money out from an ATM or buy something with a card at a store, you usually have to enter a PIN. They are also used to log into websites that need a password, or even to unlock a car or a computer. In short, a PIN is a key part of keeping things safe in our digital world.

History

The idea of a PIN started in 1967 when the first automated teller machine (ATM) was made. This machine let people get cash from their bank accounts without going to a bank. The first ATM was created by Barclays in London and used a special number, called a PIN, to keep things safe.

Later, in 1972, a man named James Goodfellow got an award for inventing the PIN. Another inventor, Mohamed M. Atalla, made a special box that helped keep PINs safe when used with ATMs. His invention made it harder for anyone to guess or steal the PIN, helping keep bank information private. His work helped make PINs popular around the world.

Financial services

When you use your bank card, you usually need two things to prove it's really you: a card number and a special number you choose called a PIN. The machine checks if the PIN you type matches the one it has stored. This helps keep your money safe.

PINs are usually four to six numbers long because that's easy to remember. Some banks use longer PINs, but most stick to six numbers or fewer. There are different ways banks check if your PIN is correct, and they use special tools to keep this process safe and secure.

PIN security

PINs are special numbers people use to keep their information safe, like when using a bank card. Most PINs are four numbers long, but some places use six numbers. It’s important to pick a PIN that is hard to guess, not using easy things like birthdays or simple number patterns.

Some systems let people pick their own PIN or change it. Many systems only let you try a few times to guess a PIN before blocking the card. Even with just a few tries, it’s still important to have a strong PIN to keep accounts safe. Experts have found that many people pick easy-to-guess PINs, making their accounts more vulnerable.

Reverse PIN hoax

Main article: ATM SafetyPIN software

Some people have shared stories online and through email saying that if you type your PIN backward at an ATM, it will call for help and still give you your money as usual. This idea was meant to help people who might be in danger while getting cash. But even though it was suggested in a few places in the United States, no ATMs actually use this special software right now.

Mobile phone passcodes

A mobile phone can have a special number, called a PIN or passcode, to keep it safe. This PIN usually has four to eight digits and is stored in a tiny card inside the phone called a SIM card. If you enter the wrong PIN three times, the phone will stop working until you use a special code called a personal unblocking code that you get from your phone company. If you enter that special code wrong ten times, the card will be blocked forever, and you will need a new one from your phone company.

This is different from the passcodes you might use to unlock the screen of your smartphone, which are not connected to the SIM card or its PIN.