As I mentioned in Low Tech Data Storage I have always had trouble with memorization, not just with phone numbers, with everything, even ATM PIN numbers. It’s not such a big deal now, but twenty years ago many places didn’t take debit cards, so remembering the PIN for the cash machine was important. I came up with a way that I was comfortable with for writing that number down so I could always have it with me.
The reason I felt comfortable putting the ATM PIN number down on paper was because I used a form of low tech cryptology. PIN numbers are typically four digits long. I would make up a name that I would associate with the bank. Then I would make up a phone number using the ATM PIN as the last four digits. To make it look authentic I would use the area code and prefix for the city I lived in. For example, If the bank was Twin Cities Federal and my pin was 9999, I might have used Trevor C. Fines 612-555-9999.
Another form of cryptology, albeit low tech, is something I call X-off. You pick a number and add or subtract that, to any number you want to encrypt. For example, let’s say X=+3 and I want to encrypt my pin number 5729, my new number would be 8052. Because zeros are used, you have to count it as a number between 9 and 1.
Another cryptology method is shifting a letter in the alphabet over a set number. Let’s use +3 again, so A = D, B = E, C = F and so on.
If you have other low tech cryptology methods please post them as a comment.
Good idea.
What all do you use these methods with other than your pin number? Do you use it for phone numbers, addresses, SSN, etc? Great idea!
Thanks you two.
John this can be used for anything, just remember what your X number is. To make things simple, I would recommend using the same X number on everything.