At first glance, a PIN seems less secure than a password — it’s usually just four or six digits. But that’s not always the case.
On devices like Windows Hello or smartphones, your PIN is stored and verified locally using encrypted hardware (TPM or Secure Enclave). That means even if hackers breach online servers, your PIN isn’t exposed.
For online logins, however, passwords remain essential. The safest approach is to use both — a strong local PIN for unlocking your device, and a high-entropy password for your online accounts.