# Cybersecurity risks regarding personal data entry > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/cybersecurity-risks-regarding-personal-data-entry > Updated: 2026-10-11T21:01:00.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2. Security concerns have been raised regarding methods used to compromise personal information during manual data entry. Initial warnings highlighted the risks of ‘shoulder surfing’, a technique where observers steal confidential data like PINs and passwords by visually monitoring users in public spaces, such as at ATMs or when using mobile banking. Subsequent warnings from experts have focused on the vulnerability of predictable authentication patterns. Analysis of leaked datasets shows that many users rely on highly insecure four-digit PINs, with common sequences like ‘1234’, ‘1111’, and ‘0000’ appearing frequently. Experts advise avoiding simple sequences or geometric keypad patterns to mitigate these risks. ## Claims - Information security expert Nick Berry analyzed millions of four-digit passwords from leaked datasets. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The combination 1234 was the most common, appearing in more than 10 percent of analyzed cases. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Commonly used insecure combinations include 1111, 0000, 1212, 7777, 4444, 2222, and 4321. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The top 20 most popular combinations account for more than a quarter of all analyzed four-digit passwords. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-11: Cybersecurity experts warn against predictable PIN codes Security experts warn that predictable four-digit PINs like ‘1234’ and ‘1111’ pose significant risks to mobile and banking security due to common human patterns. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cybersecurity-experts-warn-against-predictable-pin-codes ### 2026-09-26: Cybersecurity warning regarding shoulder surfing risks Shoulder surfing involves stealing PINs and passwords by visually observing users in public. Experts recommend using biometrics and shielding keyboards to prevent data theft. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/cybersecurity-warning-regarding-shoulder-surfing-risks --- Cite as: Cybersecurity risks regarding personal data entry. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/cybersecurity-risks-regarding-personal-data-entry