Hero Inc.

The other night I headed to a friend’s apartment to watch the Alabama/Clemson game. My friend’s apartment complex has an access gate like most complexes do these days. The problem here, which is probably the same problem at most gates, is that they are often broken or refuse to call. I always struggle to get this gate to open and I usually have to wait for someone else to go in so that I may follow them into the complex.

I knew from my own gate that the gate would open with the correct four digit combination. Most complexes allow individuals to create their own code for cases where they do not have their gate beeper with them. Well, on this night I decided to try something new. I decided to try basic combinations to see if any “default” codes would open the gate. I only needed to try two basic combinations before the gate would open for me. After telling my friend this, I was informed of two other combinations that I might want to try on other gates as well. The next time I went to his place, I tried one of the two new combinations and the gate opened with ease, yet again.

I tried the combinations on my gate and found one that worked as well. It seems that probably most apartment complexes that are surrounded by a gate will either have a default code or they allow their renters to put in a very basic code that is easily guessable. Currently, I’ve only tested this theory on two different gates (from two different apartment renters). I want to expand this theory to see if one of the four “default’ codes will let you past most gates.

The following codes are the default codes I have been trying:

• #0000
• #1234 (Worked on one gate)
• #5555 (Worked on two gates)
• #9999

If you happen to try the codes and they work, please let me know.  I understand why “default” codes and passwords exist in the world, but I struggle sometimes with the common sense that is needed to get people to change them.  I’ve never believed in apartment complex gates, but now I really think they are worthless.